120 


Hppletons' 
Uown  anfc  Country 


No.  1  88 


MISTRESS   DOROTHY  MARVIN 


DISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN 


BEING  EXCERPTA  FROM  THE  MEMOIRS  OF 

SIR   EDWARD   ARMSTRONG,    BARONET, 

OF  COPELAND   HALL,    IN   THE   COUNTY   OF  SOMERSET 


EDITED   INTO   MODERN    ENGLISH 

BY  J.    C.    SNAITH 

WITH   AN   INTRODUCTION 


NEW    YORK 
D.    APPLETON    AND    COMPANY 

1896 


COPYRIGHT,  1896, 
BY  D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY. 


INTRODUCTION. 


ONE  of  the  distinctive  features  of  the  trend  of  popular 
taste  for  the  last  two  years  has  been  the  revival  of  interest 
in  historical  fiction.  It  is  true  that  from  some  of  the  more 
exacting  realists  we  have  had  vehement  protests  against 
"the  school  of  the  trapdoor  and  dagger,"  but  the  majority 
of  readers  show  a  readiness  to  stray  from  the  paths  of 
realism,  tempted  by  the  clash  of  swords.  Crockett  and 
Doyle,  Hope  with  his  "  Count  Antonio,"  Gilbert  Parker, 
Yeats  with  "  The  Honour  of  Savelli,"  and  Hotchkiss  with 
"  In  Defiance  of  the  King,"  are  examples  close  at  hand  of 
this  alert  interest  in  the  revival  of  the  past,  and  with  them 
we  may  now  count  Mr.  Snaith.  We  are  told  often  enough 
that  coats  of  mail  or  velvet  cloaks  and  plumes  are  but 
tarnished  stage  properties  in  the  relentless  light  of  modern- 
ity ;  but,  without  assuming  to  hold  a  brief  for  any  school, 
there  are  wholesome  reasons  for  preferring  the  romance  of 
other  days  to  the  phases  of  fin-de-siecle  fiction  which  deal 
only  with  the  revolting  daughter  and  the  mismated  wife, 
and,  the  woman  with  a  past  and  the  man  without  a  future. 
From  the  Troglodytes  down  to  the  problem-ridden  readers 
of  our  day  story-telling  for  story-telling's  sake  has  kept  its 
hold,  and  it  exists  now  side  by  side  with  fiction  which  illu- 
minates the  life  of  which  we  form  a  part.  For  one  mood 
there  is  Weyman  or  Doyle,  for  another  Mrs.  Ward,  let  us 
say,  or  Howells.  The  fiction  which  analyzes  the  motives 
of  modern  social  units  may  enrich  and  strengthen  us  by  its 
inferences,  for  the  a^^Qtfi$5K>*Q!:eener  anc^  truer  than 


Vi  MIS TRE SS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

the  layman's,  and  yet  "A  Hazard  of  New  Fortunes"  or 
"  Silas  Lapham  "  need  not  and  does  not  close  the  door  to 
"  Lorna  Doone." 

One  may  sometimes  suspect  that  the  majority  of  read- 
ers are  less  concerned  with  literary  discussions  than  the 
disputants  like  to  believe,  and  it  is  quite  possible  that  the 
question,  "  Is  it  interesting  ? "  sums  up  a  popular  literary 
creed.  If  so,  Mr.  Snaith's  salvation  is  secure.  He  has 
written  a  romance  of  rare  interest,  with  a  hero  whose 
adventures  fall  thicker  than  Vallombrosa's  leaves.  Even 
Alan  Breck  would  pronounce  him  a  very  pretty  fighting 
man,  and  Monmouth's  Rebellion,  outlawry,  and  the  coming 
of  William  of  Orange  have  afforded  him  every  chance  to 
prove  his  quality.  Sedgemoor  Field,  where  the  billhooks 
and  scythes  of  Monmouth's  men  went  down  before  the 
swords  of  the  Horse  Guards,  the  Bloody  Assizes  dominated 
by  Jeffreys's  flaming  face,  adventures  "  on  the  road  "  and  in 
political  intrigues,  and  the  landing  and  triumph  of  William, 
are  among  the  scenes  of  the  dual  career  pictured  in  this 
moving  tale.  Innkeepers  and  kings,  blacksmiths  and  princes, 
were  among  those  with  whom  he  had  to  do  at  this  time 
or  that,  and  the  stern,  silent  Prince  of  Orange,  the  swarthy, 
narrow-minded  king,  and  politic  Jack  Churchill,  the  first 
Duke  of  Marlborough,  all  play  their  parts  in  pages  which 
have  the  serious  merit  of  picturing  the  conditions  attend- 
ing England's  great  revolution  and  of  indicating  with  much 
force  the  characters  of  the  foremost  figures.  That  Mr. 
Snaith  has  done  this,  and  that  he  has  written  a  romance  of 
unfailing  interest  augurs  well  for  his  literary  future. 

R.  H. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

PROLOGUE  ; 5 

I. — Has  some  Reference  to  the  Why  and  Wherefore .         .        .     21 

II.— The  Death  of  a  Soul 35 

III.— Chilverly  Farm 45 

IV. — Treats  of  a  Wayside  Venture        .        .        .  .        .57 

V. — Sir  Nicholas  Marvin      ........     68 

VI.— A  Balm  for  the  Cark  of  Care 77 

VII. — In  which  we   continue   to   enjoy   the  Society   of  Edward 

Armstrong,  Gentleman 85 

VIIL— High  Treason 94 

IX. — A  Perilous  Mission 99 

X. — Tends  to  prove  that  Saints  and  Sinners  are  near  akin  .        .  107 

XI. — In  which  my  Lord  Churchill  knits  his  Brow          .         .         .114 

XII. — The  Swordsman  in  Homespun      ......  121 

XIII.— The  Man  in  the  Cloak 132 

XIV. — Tobe  Hancock  speaks  his  Mind   ......  144 

XV. — The  Death's  Head  at  the  Feast 150 

XVI. — The  Sword  of  a  Titan 159 

XVII.— The  Council" at  Kelston  Manor 167 

XVIII. — The  Inconvenience  of  a  Conscience 175 

XIX.— Alas! 181 

XX. — The  Counting  of  the  Cost 191 

XXI.— The  Gathering  of  the  Storm 201 

XXII.— The  Fugitive 210 

XXIIL— The  Strange  Adventure  of  the  "  Goyal "       .         .        .        .218 
XXIV. — A  Lesson  in  the  Lost  Art  of  managing  Womankind     .        .  228 

XXV.— Beati  Pacifici  ! 243 

XXVI.— A  Race  for  Life 258 

XXVII. — In  which  we  live  and  learn 262 

XXVIII. — The  Coming  of  the  King's  Men 273 

XXIX.— The  Death-Song  of  Mars 287 


viii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXX. — The  Flight  over  the  Hills  in  the  Darkness         .         .        .  290 

XXXI.— The  Valley  of  the  Shadow 299 

XXXII.— The  King's  Men  take  the  Field  again       .        .        .        .305 

XXXIII. — The  Superiority  of  King's  Men 314 

XXXIV. — Taunton  Courthouse  :  Taunton  Jail 317 

XXXV.— The  Signal  of  Death 324 

XXXVI.— The  Home-coming 329 

XXXVII.— The  Singular  Narrative  of  Peter  Whipple  :  set  forth  by 

Himself  for  the  Information  of  Posterity    .        .        .  337 

XXXVIII.— The  Arrival  of  William  of  Orange 345 

XXXIX.— The  Start  for  the  Wars 352 

XL. — The  Great  Gathering  at  Exeter 364 

XLI. — The  Opening  of  the  Campaign 371 

XLII. — The  Audience 376 

XLIII. — The  Enemy's  Camp 380 

XLIV.— The  Affair  at  the  Wheat  Sheaf,  Bugley      .        .        .        .391 

XLV. — The  Night  Ride  to  London 395 

XLVL— The  Hand  of  God 399 

XLV1L— The  Flight  of  James  Stuart 403 

XLVIII  — His  Protestant  Majesty  King  William  III.         .        .        .407 
XLIX.— The  Return  to  the  West 415 


MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 


-€+•43* 


PROLOGUE. 

New  Year's  Day  in  the  West  dawned  cold  and  wet.  A 
cheerless  thaw  succeeded  a  three  weeks'  frost,  and  changed 
a  wintry  landscape  of  glittering  white  into  one  of  dripping 
woods  and  hedges,  blent  in  sombre  harmony  with  an  ex- 
panse of  uncomfortable  mud.  Accordingly,  when  the 
citizens  of  Exeter  rubbed  their  eyes  in  the  morning  and 
saw  this  uninviting  sight,  much  inquiry  ensued  concerning 
the  changes  of  the  moon;  and  forthwith  the  New  Year  was 
banned.  For  some  were  heard  to  remark  "that  if  this  was 
a  thaw,  they  preferred  a  frost;  that  if  this  was  the  New 
Year,  they  preferred  the  Old;  that  '87  was  bad  enough, 
but  '88  was  worse,  and  that  thej^  knew  mighty  well  there'd 
be  no  luck  in  the  West  so  long  as  a  Stuart  sate  king- 
crowned  at  Whitehall." 

Yet  towards  the  hour  of  noon  these  frost-bitten  pessi- 
mists forgot  their  meteorological  grumbles  in  a  more  ab- 
sorbing matter,  as  they  then  saw  a  horseman  riding  through 
the  narrow  cleft  of  the  rich  Exe  valley  at  a  furious  pace 
towards  the  city.  At  every  yard  he  scattered  mud  in  his 
track;  whilst  his  horse,  a  brown  sweat-steaming  creature, 
with  smoking  flanks  and  bloodied  nostrils,  bore  testimo- 
nials of  a  lightning  journey.  Ere  long  the  horseman  shot 
through  the  east  gate.  It  was  then  seen  that  the  mire  of 
the  western  roads  had  ascended  above  the  horse's  withers, 
and  had  half  covered  the  coat  and  hat  of  the  rider, — a  short, 
lithe,  well  knit,  apparently  youthful  man,  who  kept  the 
saddle  with  a  singular  mixture  of  ease  and  grace,  and  rode 
with  a  light  hand,  a  loose  rein,  and  a  free  tongue. 

Every  impediment  to  rider  and  horse  called  forth  a 
curse  of  the  fiercest ;  nqt  an  uncommon  thing  this, — indeed, 
politeness  alone  would  have  been  so,  because  tacked  on  to 


6  AffS TRESS  DOPOTHT  MARVIN. 

every  anathema  was  the  tremendous  announcement — "In 
the  King's  name!" 

What  could  it  mean?  Had  the  nation  again  gone  to 
war  with  those  schnapps-swilling  Dutchmen?  Had  His 
Majesty  sickened  and  died?  Or  was  it  the  Queen-mother? 

In  less  than  five  minutes  the  news  had  spread  half  over 
the  town  that  King's  Messenger  had  ridden  from  London 
express,  and  that  the  bloody-minded  papists  (whom  God 
confound!)  had  blown  up  Parliament  House. 

In  the  meantime,  the  courier  swerved  neither  to  right 
nor  left,  nor  abated  his  reckless  speed  one  whit,  but  rode 
straight  to  the  heart  of  the  city,  and  there  drew  rein  before 
the  door  of  themayor's  abode.  In  an  instant  the  rider  was 
out  of  the  saddle,  and  had  tethered  the  horse  to  the  hook 
of  his  worship's  shutter. 

The  fortunate  few  in  the  vicinity  were  now  able  to 
snatch  a  closer  survey  of  the  illustrious  visitor;  though 
their  eagerness  was  balked  in  two  particulars.  What  the 
curve  of  his  nose  was  like,  whether  elegant  or  otherwise; 
or  whether  nature  had  given  him  two  eyes  like  common 
folk,  these  they  could  not  tell.  For  a  large  kerchief,  tied 
under  his  cap  at  the  back  of  his  head,  swathed  half  his 
face,  and  completely  obscured  one  eye,  and  all  save  the  tip 
of  his  nose. 

The  messenger  executed  a  fierce  tattoo  on  the  most  ar- 
tistic knocker  in  the  parish,  which  imperative  summons 
was  answered  by  a  white-kirtled  serving  maid. 

"Wench!  conduct  me  straightway  to  your  master.  I 
may  not  sleep,  sup,  nor  tarry  till  I  have  clapped  eyes  upon 
him.  Service  of  the  King!" 

"Show  the  worthy  gentleman  into  the  parlor,  Betsy," 
called  a  loud  voice  from  within. 

The  rider  followed  the  girl  through  the  open  door,  to 
an  apartment  on  the  left  side  of  the  passage,  and  thereby 
escaped  further  stares  from  the  vulgar. 

The  horseman  having  discovered  blazing  logs  in  the 
parlor,  thankfully  sat  down  on  a  settle  beside  them,  and 
stretched  his  legs  fireward.  They  were  encased,  as  was 
the  fashion  of  the  time,  in  a  strange  length  of  riding  boot 
that  enveloped  three- fourths  of  his  thighs. 

Presently  the  mayor  himself  entered  to  receive  his  vis- 
itor. The  magistrate  was  a  flourishing  mercer  of  the  city; 


PROLOGUE  7 

a  pietist  of  more  heart  than  brain,  and  of  more  self-esteem 
than  either.  He  worshiped  God  with  beautiful  catholicity, 
adored  his  business,  feared  the  King,  and  had  a  sublime 
conceit  of  civic  distinction.  In  physical  endowment,  Dame 
Nature  had  been  somewhat  kind,  for  he  claimed  a  pleasing, 
pot-bellied  rotundity  of  person1,  and  a  floridly  pacific  coun- 
tenance. 

The  horseman  flashed  a  glance  at  the  face  of  his  wor- 
ship, and  inquired  concisely — 

"John  Bunce,  Mayor  of  Exeter?" 

"Sir,  I  am  he,"  was  the  reply,  and  the  full- toned  pomp 
of  it  made  the  messenger  cough. 

Without  more  ado  the  King's  man  began  to  fumble 
with  one  boot,  then  inserted  a  couple  of  fingers  into  the 
top  thereof,  and  deliberately  drew  from  between  the  leather 
and  his  hosen,  a  piece  of  parchment,  tied  with  cord,  and 
secured  with  wax. 

"John  Bunce,"  said  he,  "these  presents  in  the  name  of 
his  most  gracious  Majesty,  King  James  the  Second." 

That  breath-taking  name  much  affected  the  mayor. 
His  heart  fluttered,  his  hands  trembled,  his  chest  tightened. 
With  twitching  fingers  he  broke  the  seals,  and  atop  of  the 
regal  signature,  decked  by  three  unsightly  dabs  of  red, 
beheld: — 

"  We  do  hereby  desire  the  presence,  at  our  Palace  at  White- 
hall, this  day  fortnight,  of  our  leal  subject,  John  Bunce,  Mayor 
of  our  leal  city  of  Exeter,  touching  matters  appertaining  to  the 
well-being  of  our  person,  and  the  welfare  of  our  state," 

Five  minutes  went  ere  the  mayor  could  focus  his  mind 
to  the  mandate;  not  that  the  courier  disturbed  the  awe- 
struck provincial  wits.  He  laughingly  peeped  at  the  mag- 
isterial face,  saw  its  verecund  blank,  and  said  nothing;  but 
spread  his  hands  to  the  warmth,  and  being  a  humorous 
man,  grinned  at  the  cat  on  the  hearthstone. 

When  his  worship  lowered  the  missive  he  gazed  at 
the  man  by  the  fire. 

"Well,  Jack  Dunce "  began  that  gentleman,  flip- 
pantly. 

"Bunce,  sir;  John  Bunce." 

"Oh,  well,  Bunce  or  Dunce,  it  don't  much  matter! 
Thou'rt  one  or  t'other,  or  both!  Now,  Jack,  my  man, 
what  dost  make  of  it?" 


8  MISTRESS  DOROTlir  MARVIN 

"It  seems  to  me,"  replied  his  worship,  with  unspeak- 
able dignity,  "that  his  gracious  majesty  requests  my  pres- 
ence at  Whitehall." 

"Quite  so!  That  is  a  profound  remark.  Thou 'rt  cer- 
tainly wanted  at  Whitehall.  But  why?" 

"Sir,  that  I  can  not  tell." 

"Tut,  John,  on  wi'  the  thinking-cap!  Dost  suppose 
he  wants  to  ask  whether  thy  health  be  sound,  whether  thy 
lady  hath  an  angel's  temper,  and  whether  thy  children  are 
a  credit  to  their  parents?" 

"H'm — er — no — not  exactly — that  is  to  say " 

"Out  with  it,  man!" 

"That  is  to  say,  it  might  be  something  more  important." 

"  'Pon  my  soul,  John,  thou  hast  more  in  that  .noddle 
than  I  thought!  A  man  of  gumption,  I  see." 

The  mayor  bowed. 

"Perhaps  you  know  Tom  'Crofter,  of  Worcester?" 
King's  man  inquired. 

"No,  sir,  I  never  had  the  pleasure  of  the  gentleman's 
friendship." 

"Friend,  I  once  served  a  similar  missive  upon  him. 
Of  course,  he  obeyed  the  King's  command  and  presented 
himself  at  Whitehall.  That  man  came  back  Sir  Thomas." 

"Gadzooks!"  and  something  jumped  in  the  mayor's 
inside. 

"Now,  coz,  set  thine  ear  this  way,  and  listen." 

Master  Bunce  was  blithe  in  his  obedience.  The  way 
that  dignitary  forgot  his  self-respect,  by  placing  with  inde- 
cent eagerness  his  acoustic  organ  within  three  inches  of 
the  messenger's  lips,  was  a  sight  to  have  tickled  Ben  Jon- 
son,  had  he  but  lived  to  see  it. 

"When  His  Majesty  handed  me  this  document,  he 
said ' '  The  courier  paused. 

"Yes?"  and  the  mayor  grew  hot  and  nervous. 

"Said  he  to  me "  King's  man  suddenly  stopped. 

An  Autolycusian  twinkle  leapt  in  his  visible  eye  as  he 
gave  his  worship  a  dig  in  the  ribs,  and  added,  his  tone 
strangely  melancholic,  "Look  here,  John,  it  hath  been 
'spur  and  spare  not'  all  the  way  hither;  in  fact,  such  hath 
been  my  haste,  that  I  have  ne'er  tarried  for  a  morsel  of 
food  this  blessed  day.  And  nature  hath  just  whispered  me 


PROLOGUE  9 

that,  till  there's  meat  within  eye-range,  the  tale  must 
stand  untold." 

"But,  surely,  Master  Apparitor,  your  plight  cannot  be 
quite  so  serious?" 

"John,  nature  never  lies."  The  messenger's  voice 
tailed  off  to  a  husky  wheeze. 

"Yet,  sir " 

His  visitor  turned  his  one  black  eye  towards  the  ceil- 
ing, and  laid  his  hand  on  his  abdomen  with  a  highly  path- 
etic gesture.  In  desperation  the  mayor  called  for  Betsy, 
the  maid,  bade  her  lay  a  repast  for  the  gentleman,  and  iras- 
cibly added,  "Be  mighty  smart  about  it." 

Whilst  she  obeyed,  the  messenger  assumed  an  air  of 
sphinx-like  gravity,  but  cold-bloodedly  kept  his  eye  on  the 
fretful  magistrate,  who  paced  up  and  down  the  room, 
swearing  softly  to  himself  at  such  singular  aggravation. 

Presently  Betsy  arrived  with  some  collops  of  red  deer's 
meat,  a  mutton  pasty,  and  a  salmon  cutlet.  The  recipient 
of  these  good  things  thanked  her,  took  a  seat  at  the  table, 
and  made  a  fine  onslaught  on  the  comestibles.  He  had 
thought  for  nothing  but  the  pleasing  business  of  knife  and 
platter,  and  drove  this  thriving  trade  with  diligence. 

"  'Oons!"  he  gasped,  his  mouth  full  of  venison,  "this 
deer's  meat  tickles  my  palate  so,  I  fain  would  have  another 
serving." 

"What,  another?  Come,  my  friend!"  quoth  his  wor- 
ship impatiently,  excitement  at  last  overcoming  the  polite- 
ness of  compulsory  hospitality. 

"Nay,  'tis  go,  my  friend,"  retorted  he  of  the  covered 
eye,  and  by  way  of  adding  example  to  precept,  cut  a  huge 
slice  from  the  pasty,  and  disposed  of  it  in  three  bites. 

Having  ministered  to  the  demands  of  nature,  the  man 
from  London  laid  aside  the  implements  of  gluttony,  and 
plucked  poor  Tantalus  from  the  purgatory  of  hopes  de- 
ferred. 

"Jack  Dunce,  you  patient  man,  methinks  King  Belly 
hath  ta'en  his  fill,  so  shut  the  door  and  come  you  hither  to 
hearken  to  my  tidings." 

HiswTorship  needed  no  second  invitation.  Within  ten 
seconds  he  had  resumed  his  former  attitude  of  hope,  whilst 
the  narrator,  having  cleared  his  throat,  began  in  a  tone  of 
surprising  secrecy. 


10  .\//S  TXESS  DORO  Til  1 '  MA  R I V. V 

"Upon  the  day  of  my  departure,  His  Blessed  Majesty 
sent  word  for  me  to  repair  to  his  private  apartment.  'Jere- 
miah,' said  he  to  me  (by  the  way,  I  should  tell  you  he 
hath  a  noble  affability  towards  all  his  servants),  'Jeremiah, 
I  will  thank  you  to  make  full  use  of  your  ears  and  eyes 
upon  this  journey.  You  must  take  particular  notice  of  all 
matters  that  come  within  Master  Bunce's  jurisdiction,  and 
report  fully  to  me  on  your  return.  I  may  say  much  de- 
pends upon  your  affirmation.  You,  Master  Harrison,  are 
selected  for  this  mission,  because  you  are  one  whom  I  can 
rely  upon  not  to  let  unworthy,  dishonest,  and  ulterior  mo- 
tives influence  your  statement.  Now,  I  am  given  to  un- 
derstand that  the  Mayor  of  Exeter  is  a  person  who  might 
worthily  bear  three  letters  before  his  name;  therefore  I  am 
despatching  a  responsible  person  to  learn  how  he  conducts 
the  business  of  his  city.'  ' 

"And  those  were  his  words?"  mused  the  mayor. 

"Sooth!  they  were." 

The  sleek  citizen  rose,  put  his  hands  on  his  sides, 
threw  out  his  chest,  and  cocked  up  his  head  an  inch  higher. 
Try  as  he  might  he  could  not  conceal  his  pleasure,  and  the 
ridiculous  picture  of  delight  and  dignity  united  in  one  and 
the  same  individual,  set  the  King's  man  a-laughing  at  so 
brave  a  display  of  spontaneous  humor. 

His  worship  made  a  circuit  of  the  room.  Perchance, 
as  he  strutted  round  and  round  it,  with  eyes  and  chin  aloft, 
deep  in  the  raptures  of  imagination,  he  felt,  as  distinctly  as 
possible,  the  light  tap  of  King  James's  sword  upon  his 
shoulder,  and  heard  the  regal  voice  exclaim,  "Arise,  Sir 
John!" 

Soon  the  prospective  knight  brought  his  mind  back  to 
more  everyday  matters,  and  asked  his  visitor,  with  a  gush 
of  generosity — 

"Sir,  what  will  you  take  to  drink?" 

'  'Let  it  be  schnapps. ' ' 

"I  have  liquids  less  homely  in  my  cellar:  Madeira, 
Oporto,  and  Languedoc;  whilst  we  broached  yestere'en  as 
good  a  cask  of  cider  as  ever  traveled  from  Somerset." 

"Tut,  tut,  friend,  schnapps  is  my  panacea  for  all  the 
ills  of  life,  and  I'll  not  desert  it.  Schnapps  and  hot  water, 
say  I,  wi'  a  modicum  o'  sugar,  a  dash  o'  lemon,  and  a 
smack  o'  spice,  will  e'er  bring  comfort  to  a  weary  spirit." 


PROLOGUE  11 

The  mayor  again  called  the  maid,  and  bade  her  bring 
forth  a  flask  of  his  best  Schiedam,  together  with  the  other 
accessories  mentioned  by  his  visitor. 

Master  Harrison  sipped  liquor  in  the  pauses  of  conver- 
sation with  an  air  of  the  connoisseur.  It  may  have  been 
by  a  strange  coincidence,  or  by  a  latent  principle  of  natural 
law,  that  the  courier  bubbled  with  genial  talk,  and  embel- 
lished it  by  hot  enthusiasm  anent  the  beauties  of  a  coat-of- 
arms;  by  mentioning  the  abode  of  theexpertestemblazoner 
of  heraldic  devices  in  the  kingdom;  and  by  discoursing  at 
length  upon  the  correct  method  of  kneeling  before  the 
King. 

The  man  from  London  was  a  brave  companion.  He 
thawed  the  magistrate's  dignity  by  his  cheerful  humor  and 
his  sparkling  wit.  His  pungent  jokes  kindled  a  light  in  his 
worship's  eye;  the  beneficence  of  his  one  uncovered  orb  set 
a  mighty  hope  in  his  worship's  heart.  There  was  such  a 
fine  good-fellowship  about  the  man,  such  a  whole-souled 
joviality,  that  he  raised  the  glass  ten  times  to  his  lips,  and 
pledged  his  host's  health  on  each  occasion;  and  insisted  that 
the  mayor  should  respond  in  draughts  of  cherry  brandy. 

Still  one  momentous  question  was  for  ever  on  the  tip  of 
his  worship's  tongue,  one  tremendous  thought  for  ever  up- 
permost in  his  mind.  Soon  the  good  man  coughed  short 
and  dry,  tried  to  subdue  the  twitching  of  his  nervous  fin- 
gers; tried  to  keep  his  anxious  features  fairly  straight. 
But  veritas  prevalebit;  so  it  must  be  recorded  that  Master 
Bunce  blundered  head- foremost  into  the  fateful  query. 

"Master  Apparitor,  I — I  trust  you  are  satisfied  with 
this  city's  affairs,  and  that  your  report  will  be  favorable?" 
Here  his  heart  failed  him;  so  his  tongue  having  run  sud- 
denly short  of  speech,  he  found  nought  better  to  do  than  to 
look  red  and  ridiculous,  and  inwardly  regret  the  weakness 
of  his  head  and  the  strength  of  cherry  brandy. 

"John  Bunce,"  said  the  other,  in  so  cold  a  tone  and  in 
so  marked  a  contrast  to  his  former  one  that  it  filled  his  au- 
ditor with  alarms,  "I  presume  Heavy-Tree  Gallows  is  with- 
in thy  jurisdiction?" 

"Y — e— s,"  he  stuttered. 

"Then  'tis  good-bye  to  knighthood,"  and  the  courier 
hit  the  table,  and  set  the  crockery  dancing,  whilst  a  magni- 
ficent fire  came  into  his  visible  eye. 


12  .IffSTfiESS  DOROTIir  MARVIX 

"Say  not  so,  sir;  say  not  so!" 

"But  I  do  say  so,  sir!  Dost  think  I  wear  this  rag  as 
an  ornament?"  and  King's  man  placed  a  finger  on  his  ban- 
dage. 

"I — I  don't  quite  understand,  sir." 

"Hark  at  that  now!  John,  my  man,  if  thy  purse  be  as 
heavy  as  thy  understanding,  there  is  yet  a  chance  for  that 
coat-of-arms." 

"But  sir,  I — I — I  don't  quite  apprehend." 

"Poor  witling,  must  I  tell  the  story?  But  I'll  e'en 
plenish  my  glass  ere  I  begin,  for  my  throttle's  as  dry  as  a 
Godolphin  oration.  And,  brother,  you'll  drain  another' 
dram  wi'me,  just  for  the  sake  o'  company." 

"I— I  think  not,  sir." 

"Psha,  if  I  cannot  have  civility,  not  another  word 
from  me.  I'll  save  it  for  King  James,  nor  shall  it  be  the 
sweeter  for  keep." 

King's  man  rose  and  clapped  on  his  hat.  Now  it  was 
certain  that  the  host's  behavior  much  pained  the  gentle- 
man from  London,  and  when  his  worship's  recantation 
came,  as  of  course  it  did,  so  wounded  were  his  feelings, 
that  after  due  ponderation  on  the  merits  of  the  case,  and  on 
terms  of  the  apology,  he  said,  exquisite  grief  depicted  in 
his  face,  "that  being  by  nature  a  man,  soft-hearted,  long- 
suffering,  and  much  prone  to  the  folly  of  forgiveness,  he'd 
overlook  John  Bunce's  scurvy  conduct,  with  the  distinct 
proviso,  that  he  (J.  Harrison)  should  mix  the  liquor. 

Mix  it  he  did;  but  it  should  be  observed  the  compound 
was  concocted  of  two  parts  raw  spirit  to  one  part  water. 
The  tale  in  itself  was  short;  yet,  despite  its  brevity,  it  stuck 
Master  Bunce  on  a  cushion  of  thorns. 

"It  befell,"  began  King's  man  impressively,  "that 
this  very  day  I  was  making  all  speed  hither  to  deliver  His 
Majesty's  letter,  when  within  ten  yards  of  Heavy-Tree  Gal- 
lows, I  was  accosted  by  a  prick-eared  Jack  Presbyter  (no 
true  Catholic,  I'll  swear,  would  so  insult  the  King's  Maj- 
esty), who  impertinently  asked  me  the  time.  Being,  as  I 
have  said,  a  singularly  obliging  man,  I  slackened  speed, 
and  pulled  out  my  watch.  '  'Twill  be  eleven  of  the  clock 
in  two  minutes,'  said  I.  'Pardon,'  said  he,  bending  his 
head  nearer  my  mouth,  'I'm  hard  of  hearing.'  But,  Holy 
Virgin!  ere  I  could  conceive  the  depths  of  his  infamy,  with 


PROLOGUE  13 

one  hand  he  grabbed  the  watch  (purest  gold,  studded  wi' 
diamonds,  from  Doubleday  of  the  Crown  and  Sceptre, 
Westminster),  and  with  the  other  hit  me  a  gallows'  blow 
in  the  left  eye  that  knocked  me  heels  over  head  from  the 
saddle.  Mayhap  you'll  not  credit  this,  but  sure  as  the 
sun's  in  the  sky,  before  I  might  rise,  pluck  a  pistol,  or  put 
up  a  prayer  to  the  saints  the  peccant  knave  was  upon  me, 
with  two  ungodly  knees  squeezing  my  vitals.  I  was  half 
through  a  yell  when  he  cut  it  in  two  by  cramming  the  butt 
of  a  barker  slap  down  my  throat  as  far  as  the  voice-box. 
Quoth  he,  his  laugh  very  impudent,  'Dear  brother,  speak 
not,  or  I  use  a  little  gentle  persuasion,'  and  he  cracked  out 
three  front  teeth  with  the  jar  of  the  iron." 

The  narrator  parted  his  lips:  three  teeth  on  the  upper 
jaw  were  missing. 

"This  done,"  continued  the  victim,  "he  set  his  digits 
to  work.  In  two  minutes  he  had  emptied  every  pocket  on 
my  person,  and  had  relieved  me  of  thirty  guineas.  In  fact, 
he  left  me  nought  of  value,  save  this  precious  missive, 
which  he  failed  to  discover,  for  ever  since  the  outrage  per- 
petrated upon  me  in  Maidenhead  Thicket,  ten  years  agone, 
I  always  convey  thief  tempting  articles  in  my  boot. 

"Now,  all  this  had  been  performed  ere  I  could  gather 
my  senses  or  lug  the  weapon  from  twixt  my  teeth;  and 
when  at  last  I  was  able  to  do  so,  the  caitiff  had  wished  me 
a  very  good  morning,  and  was  flying  over  hedge  and  ditch 
in  full  possession  of  my  worldly  wealth.  May  the  devil  an- 
nex him!" 

"Oh,  sir!"  gasped  the  mayor,  a  weight  of  fear  upon 
him,  "  'tis  terrible  news!" 

"Terrible  news!  Strike  me  purple,  'twill  cost  a 
knighthood!" 

At  this  promised  calamity  the  magistrate  collapsed  into 
a  state  of  limp  inertion,  whereat  the  visitor  was  so  kind  as 
to  proffer  spirits  with  which  to  resuscitate  his  shattered 
nerves  and  intellect.  In  equity  to  them  both,  it  should  be 
said,  this  assisted  to  soothe  his  worship's  nervous  system, 
and  to  further  befog  his  thinking  faculties.  Asked  he,  at 
lasti  his  voice  thick  with  brandy  and  emotion — 

"Was  your  assailant  a  handsome  man?" 

"Handsome?  Handsome  ain't  the, word!  Ods  my  life! 
twin-brother  to  Apollo." 


14  MIS  TRESS  DORO  THT  MAR  VIN 

"I  presume  you  mean  Apollyon?"  the  magistrate  cor- 
rected; then  drew  a  sheriff's  hand-bill  from  his  doublet, 
smoothed  its  creases,  and  inquired  judicially— 

"Had  he  a  chestnut  horse?  Was  he  very  dark  of 
countenance;  black  eyes,  straight  black  hair,  smart  carri- 
age, comely  person,  gentleman-like  speech,  stature  five  feet 
six,  one  inch  scar  on  upper  lip,  and  birth  mark  on  right 
temple?" 

"Jack  Dunce,  thou  hast  named  the  man!" 

"Sir,  you  have  met  Black  Ned,  the  arrantest  knave  in 
Europe!" 

"What!  he  who  robbed  my  lord  Feversham,  the  King's 
Commander,  in  these  parts  last  fall?" 

"The  same." 

"The  devil!"  exclaimed  King's  Messenger,  in  loose- 
lipped  astonishment.  The  injured  man  was  seized  with  a 
spasm  of  anger,  and  spluttered  a  mouthful  of  epithets. 
"Pink  my  soul!  trust  a  dunderheaded  country  justice  to  be 
cocking  over  his  fire-grate,  while  every  cut-throat  unhung 
grins  through  his  parlor  window!" 

Master  Bunce  groaned. 

"That  will  not  mend  it,  my  friend!  I  tell  'ee,  'twill 
not  mend  it!  You  had  best  procure  a  warrant  for  his  ap- 
prehension and  a  posse  to  execute  it!" 

Master  Bunce  groaned  again,  and  added  gloomily, 
"  'Twill  but  be  money  and  labor  thrown  away.  Times 
without  number  he  hath  tricked  the  law,  and  made  it  the 
laughing-stock  of  three  counties.  He  cares  not  a  tinker's 
damn  for  justice,  nor  ever  will  while  the  commonalty  favor 
him,  shield  him,  and  applaud  his  villainy.  The  West  hath 
ne'er  seen  his  match  within  living  memory.  He's  as  clever 
as  Satan,  and  as  artful  as  sin!" 

"Methinks  John  Dunce,  this  is  truly  discreditable  to 
thee  and  thy  brother  justices.  By  Heaven,  I'll  acquaint 
the  King!" 

"The  King!     Oh,  don't,  I  conjure  you!" 

"Don't,  quotha?  Would  ye  seek  to  corrupt  me,  then? 
Dost  forget  His  Gracious  Majesty's  words  ere  I  set  forth  on 
this  mission?  Said  he  to  me,  'Thou'rt  one  whom  I  can 
rely  upon  not  to  let  unworthy,  dishonest  and  ulterior  mo- 
tives influence  thy  statement.'  And,  John,  you,  in  the  face 
of  those  noble  words,  bid  me  perjure  my  soul.  You  arch- 
dissembler!" 


PROLOGUE  15 

He  smartly  slapped  his  knee,  and  fairly  cowed  the 
mayor  with  the  flash  of  his  baleful  eye. 

"But,  please,  sir,  do  not  jeopardise  my  knighthood," 
pleaded  Sir  John  that  was  to  be. 

Here  the  courier's  demeanor  underwent  a  startling 
metamorphosis.  In  lieu  of  high  looks,  a  smile  appeared 
as  he  playfully  poked  the  citizen  in  the  region  of  the  ribs, 
and  said,  with  a  throb  of  laughter — 

"Jack  Dunce,  dear  man,  I  must  tell  thee  that,  tinder 
certain  conditions,  Jeremiah  Harrison  hath  an  excellent 
memory  for  forgetting." 

The  mercer  stared  amazed  at  the  messenger,  and 
though  he  strove  to  fathom  the  meaning  of  a  hint  so  broad, 
he  failed,  because  his  brain  was  too  befuddled  to  discover 
its  full  significance. 

"Yes,  that's  a  paradox,"  laughed  the  man  from  Lon- 
don, "and  subtle  enough  for  old  Sam  Butler.  I  see  thy 
torpid  provincial  mind  doth  not  fathom  its  meaning.  But 
I  have  known  a  golden  guinea  to  cast  a  spell  ere  now;  in 
fact,  I  once  knew  one  to  be  responsible  for  a  lapse  of  mem- 
ory." This  sample  of  official  rectitude  gave  a  portentous 
wink;  then  fell  to  whistling  a  cheerful  tune. 

Precisely  at  this  moment  the  bibacious  citizen  was 
favored  with  a  glimmer  of  penetration.  For  an  instant  the 
cloud  rolled  back  from  his  dram-befogged  brain;  his  under- 
standing jumped;  he  saw  a  light;  he  grasped  a  fact! 

His  worship  did  not  pause  to  probe  the  depths  of 
his  visitor's  moral  obliquity;  nor  to  analyze  his  double 
dealing. 

"Master  Messenger,  would  twenty  guineas  be  of  any 
service  in  this  matter?" 

"Pish!  Dost  think  I'm  a  scald  attorney,  with  a  con- 
science like  a  weather-cock,  who'd  wipe  his  feet  on  his 
honor  for  the  feel  of  a  six-groat  piece?" 

"I'll  make  it  thirty,  sir." 

"Thirty,  quotha?  'Pon  my  soul,  John,  that  magnifi- 
cent sum  for  a  knighthood!  Why,  thou  man  of  generous 
mind,  'twould  not  pay  for  the  loss  of  my  self-respect!" 

Thereupon  they  haggled  and  argued;  twisted  the  con- 
troversy into  all  manner  of  shapes;  examined  the  matter 
from  every  aspect;  mutually  conceded  many  minor  points, 
and  showed  a  charming  generosity  one  towards  another  in 


16  M/STTfESS  DOROTHT  MARVIN 

regard  to  all  side  issues.  But  on  the  main  contention, 
neither  budged  an  inch.  They  debated  man  to  man,  and 
made^  a  fair  fight  of  it,  with  only  one  stoppage  for  refresh- 
ments. Once,  indeed,  they  tarried  to  drink.  They 
pledged  each  other's  health,  and  clinked  glasses  with  a 
punctilious  politeness;  though,  next  minute,  down  came 
the  flag  of  truce,  and  hostilities  began  again.  And  whether 
it  was  that  King's  man's  head  was  middling  clear,  and  that 
the  mayor's  was  undeniably  fuddled;  or  whether  King's 
man's  gift  of  rhetoric  was  finer  than  that  of  his  worship, 
may  never  be  known;  yet  this  much  is  on  record:  the  cour- 
ier gained  the  day,  and,  on  this  occasion,  the  value  of  a 
coat  of  arms  was  assessed  at  one  hundred  guineas.  For 
this  sum,  cash  in  advance,  he  undertook  to  speak  a  kind 
word  in  His  Majesty's  ear  on  his  return  to  Town.  Having 
clasped  hands  on  the  bargain,  Master  Bunce  went  in  quest 
of  the  money.  In  a  short  time  he  returned  with  a  bag  of 
bulk,  which  he  deposited  on  the  table;  and  sighed  as  he 
did  so. 

" 'Tis  a  hard  bargain!"  The  mayor's  voice  was  re- 
gretful. 

"Ay,  Sir  John,"  said  the  other  softly,  with  something 
of  an  accent  on  the  title,  "it  is  a  hard  bargain.  Think  of 
my  perjured  soul." 

However,  for  his  own  part,  he  preferred  to  think  of 
the  fruits  of  it.  With  quick  fingers  he  untied  the  bag,  and 
carefully  turned  its  contents  onto  the  table.  His  visage  in- 
scrutable and  his  manner  ostentatiously  mild,  he  counted 
aloud  each  golden  guinea  as  he  dropped  it  back  into  the 
bag.  He  had  reached  number  ninety-six,  when  a  rattle  of 
hoofs  sounded  directly  under  the  parlor  window.  The 
messenger  glanced  sharply  through  it,  hastily  swept  the 
four  remaining  coins  into  their  receptacle,  tied  up  the 
mouth  of  the  bag,  and  slipped  the  fingers  of  his  right  hand 
round  it.  Even  as  he  did  so  the  new  arrival  made  power- 
ful play  with  the  door  knocker.  Half  a  minute  later  the 
breathless  visitor  clanked  into  the  parlor.  He  was  a  small, 
shrimpy,  pippin-faced  man,  red  as  a  turkey  and  apparently 
as  wrathful  as  that  short-tempered  bird. 

"Which  be  John  Bunce?"  he  shouted. 

"I  am  he,"  murmured  his  worship  blandly.  Be  it 
understood,  his  mind  was  already  tinged  with  a  delicious 
foretaste  of  impending  promotion. 


PROLOGUE  17 

The  newcomer  began  with  a  brilliant  fanfaronade  of 
language;  round,  full-toned,  symmetrical  language;  a 
credit  to  his  lungs  and  his  power  of  invective.  Then  he 
bounced  about  the  room  like  a  pea  on  a  plate,  and  delivered 
himself,  though  every  tenth  word  was  trimmed  with  a  hys- 
terical interjection,  as  follows — 

"My  name  is  Joshua  Pringle.  I  have  ridden  on  King's 
business  directly  hither,  wi'out  stint  of  horseflesh  and 
wi'out  misadventure,  to  within  five  miles  o'  this  city.  All 
have  respected  the  urgence  and  exceeding  notability  of  my 
errand  save  one  infernal  child  of  hell,  who  accosted  me 
this  very  morning.  He  greeted  me  with  a  wave  of  his  hat, 
and  cozened  me  into  false  security  with  sweet  words  and  a 
glib  tongue.  He  inquired  the  time  with  the  air  of  a  gen- 
tleman, and  I,  poor  dolt!  took  out  my  watch  to  oblige  him. 
At  that,  sir,  as  Heaven  is  my  witness!  he  snatched  it  from 
mine  hand,  smote  me  out  of  my  saddle,  knelt  on  my  chest, 
robbed  me  of  every  stiver  upon  my  person,  including  the 
thrice-precious  document  the  King  hath  entrusted  to  my 
keeping,  set  my  horse  a-galloping  into  an  easterly  direc- 
tion, gave  me  'good  morning,'  and  left  me  to  come  hither 
as  best  I  might." 

The  sense  of  his  hard  fortune  completely  overcame 
him.  He  danced  and  skipped  about  the  room,  swinging 
his  arms  in  ill-regulated  rhythm  with  his  tongue,  twisting 
his  meagre  body,  and  contorting  his  shrewish  face  into 
shapes,  at  once  grotesque  and  fearful.  Meantime,  his  lan- 
guage took  a  higher  flight  of  violence,  and  while  he  in- 
voked the  powers  of  heaven  one  minute,  with  strict  im- 
partiality, he  invoked  those  of  hell  the  next.  His  volubil- 
ity was  truly  wonderful;  but  there  is  a  belief  abroad  that 
the  little  men  try  to  atone  for  lack  of  stature  by  a  super- 
abundance of  words. 

While  this  was  pending,  his  bewildered  worship  was 
stricken  dumb.  The  civic  hands  grew  clammy,  the  sweat 
came  out  on  the  civic  brow. 

Master  Harrison  took  this  new  turn  of  events  with 
egregious  coolness;  kept  his  seat,  said  never  a  word,  and 
showed  no  sign  of  emotion  beyond  drumming  his  fingers  on 
the  table-cloth. 

"Mark  me,"  shrilled  Master  Pringle,  "ere  I  quit  the 
West,  I'll  see  the  scurvy  villain  hanged.  If  flesh  and  blood 


18  MISTRESS  DOROTHT  MARVIN 

can  compass  it,  his  carcass  shall  adorn  stout  hemp!  I  de- 
mand justice,  and  justice  I  will  have!  I  have  been  beset 
and  robbed — most  foully  robbed — and  I  cry  aloud  for  jus- 
tice! And  likewise  ye  may  know,  John  Bunce,  that  upon 
our  second  meeting  I'll  prove  to  his  reptile  mind  (aye,  and 
to  his  reptile  body  also!)  that  the  mouse's  frame  may  hold 
the  lion's  heart!" 

"I've  heard  an  old  proverb  anent  first  catching  your 
bear  ere  you  barter  his  skin,"  cooed  Master  Harrison 
meekly. 

"You  sir!     Who  the  devil  may  you  be,  sir?" 

"I,  sir?  I'm  a  man  of  no  consequence;  a  man  of  hum- 
ble mind,"  was  the  sweet  reply. 

Hereupon  the  mayor  found  enough  speech  to  interrupt 
this  skirmish  by  asking  victim  Number  Two  what  manner 
of  a  man  his  aggressor  was. 

"A  black-eyed,  smooth-spoken  rogue;  dark  skinned, 
not  uncomely  in  the  features,  and  of  somewhat  shortish 
height." 

"Was  he  riding  a  chestnut  horse?" 

Pringle  gave  an  affirmative  reply;  whereat  the  mayor 
of  Exeter  subsided. 

Seeing  this  victim  Number  One  vented  a  great  guffaw 
of  laughter,  and  added,  in  a  chirruping  tone — 

"Dear  sir,  didst  happen  to  see  whether  thy  opponent 
lacked  three  teeth  in  his  upper  jaw?" 

"No,  I  didn't." 

"Well,  I  will  add,  for  thy  information,  for  the  sheriff's 
and  for  the  furtherance  of  the  ends  of  justice,  that  he  doth." 

Master  Pringle  was  neatly  puzzled. 

"Sir,"  said  he,  "you  speak  in  riddles." 

Before  an  answer  could  be  made,  victim  Number  Two 
had  discovered  another  enigma.  His  eye  caught  the  red- 
sealed  document  on  the  table.  He  examined  it  eagerly, 
then  vented  a  cry  of  astonishment. 

"In  the  name  of  the  Virgin,  whence  came  this?" 

The  mayor  made  an  inarticulate  guttural  noise,  and 
pointed  his  finger  towards  Master  Harrison.  That  gentle- 
man rose  to  his  feet  with  notable  deliberation,  saying 
gravely — 

"Gentlemen,  methinks  ye  would  be  aiding  the  law  if 
ye  supplemented  the  incomplete  description  at  present  given 


PROLOGUE.  19 

of  that  notorious  malefactor,  Black  Ned,  by  stating  that  he 
lacks  three  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw."  And  once  more  he 
parted  his  lips  and  proved  that  three  of  his  own  were  absent. 

His  hearers  scratched  their  benighted  polls,  frowned, 
looked  first  at  each  other,  then  at  the  speaker,  and  inter- 
nally wondered  whether  they  were  themselves  bewitched, 
or  whether  the  man  of  the  covered  eye  had  lost  his  mental 
balance. 

"Gentlemen,"  he  said  again,  his  gravity  exchanged 
for  laughter,  "own  that  ye  are  prettily  mystified." 

He  enjoyed  their  perplexity  for  the  space  of  half  a 
minute,  then  with  a  quick  movement  twitched  his  hat  from 
his  head  and  ripped  the  bandage  from  his  eye. 

The  effect  was  magical.  The  mayor  gave  back  a  step, 
changed  color  in  quick  transitions  from  red  to  green,  and 
green  to  white;  whilst  Master  Pringle's  vaunted  leonine 
demeanor  seemed  immediately  to  suffer  a  paralytic  stroke. 
Cold  terror  chilled  this  pair,  for  the  half-gay,  half-sinister 
countenance  of  Black  Ned  mocked  them.  There  was  no 
mistaking  his  strange  dark  hair,  the  fine  curve  of  his  nose, 
and  the  black,  evil,  fascinating  lustre  of  his  eyes. 

"Lord,  what  fools  these  mortals  be!"  he  cried,  clapping 
his  hands  to  his  sides,  in  a  wild  turbulence  of  laughter. 

This  impudent  derision  stung  the  mayor;  he  regained 
the  power  of  words,  to  such  an  extent  did  honest  wrath 
surmount  the  fumes  of  liquor. 

"Base  beast!  Within  a  week  ye  shall  taste  Dame 
Tuckfield's  Bounty."* 

The  highwayman  still  clasped  his  ribs. 

"Curse  thee,  thou  arch  villain!  "  the  mayor  continued, 
his  indignation  superbly  righteous.  "Thou  hast  had  the 
grace  to  make  as  hearty  a  meal  as  man  could  desire  at  my 
expense,  and  to  accept  one  hundred  guineas  into  the  bar- 
gain  

"And  which,  by  a  continuation  of  that  grace,  I  will 
keep  as  a  remembrance,"  interposed  the  trickster  dryly, 
transferring  the  bag  from  his  right  hand  to  an  inner  pocket 
of  his  horseman's  cloak.  Next  he  turned  on  the  empty 
Pringle. 

*  In  the  reign  of  King  Edward  VI.,  a  charitable  lady,  the 
widow  of  Master  Tuckfield,  sometime  Sheriff  of  Exeter,  bequeath- 
ed shrouds  and  an  interment  place  for  the  decent  burial  of  male- 
factors executed  on  the  gallows  of  Heavy  Tree. 


20  MfSTfiESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN 

"Best  keep  a  guard  on  that  valorous  tongue  o'  thine, 
my  little  bantam,  or  'twill  be  a  baneful  thing  for  thee! 
Speak  not  so  light  of  gentlemen  in  future." 

To  fully  impress  these  remarks,  he  tugged  their  recipi- 
ent by  the  ear.  That  fire-eater  pursed  his  lips  for  a  howl, 
but  happily,  in  the  mean  time,  Master  Bunce  had  bawled  to 
his  apprentices,  who  were  working  on  hose  and  kersey  stuff 
across  the  passage. 

"Run,  John!  ^run,  Tom!  Haste  hither,  asthoulovest 
Our  Lady,  and  seize  this  worker  of  iniquity!" 

Black  Ned  loosed  his  grip  of  the  real  King's  Messenger, 
and  ran  to  the  door;  though  in  his  progress  he  whipped  up 
an  untouched  mutton  pasty,  and  deposited  this  toothsome 
dainty  into  his  pocket.  Hearing  a  clatter  in  the  workshop, 
and  other  preliminaries  of  action,  he  retreated  hotfoot  along 
the  passage,  dashed  through  the  street  door,  clipped  the 
reins  from  the  shutter-hook,  bounded  into  the  saddle,  shot 
a  word  into  his  animal's  ear,  and  was  away  to  the  east. 

Scarce  twenty  yards  had  he  made  on  his  journey  ere  an 
eloquent  congregation  were  at  his  worship's  threshold.  The 
.  horseman  turned  half-around  in  his  saddle;  removed  his  hat 
with  a  flourish,  and  bowed  with  exaggerated  politeness  and 
lingering  mockery.  By  the  time  he  had  reached  the  first 
corner,  volley  upon  volley  of  malediction  sang  in  his  ears; 
but  for  this  he  had  no  heed,  for  within  the  space  of  five 
minutes,  Exeter  city  lay  a  mile  in  his  rear. 

The  foregoing  incident  is  without  a  place  in  the  Armstrong 
manuscript,  Sir  Edward  maintaining  a  reticence,  at  once  pro  im'- 
worthy  and  professional,  upon  matters  pertaining  to  his  public 
career.  Doubtless  the  advance  of  years  blighted  early  vainglory, 
much  in  the  same  way  that  mature  reflections  deplored  the  follies  of 
youth. 

The  editor  has  made  so  bold  as  to  reclaim  this  exploit  from  the 
mass  of  second-hand  tradition  that  for  generations  clothed  the  mem- 
ory of  Black  Ned  with  a  doubtful  though  none  the  less  delectable 
halo  of  notoriety.  This  one  in  particular  is  selected,  because  respon- 
sible authority  can  be  found  to  back  its  authenticity ;  and  also  in 
the  hope  that  readers  may  welcome  an  impartial  portrait  of  the 
rogue  in  the  prime  of  infamy. 

From  this  point  Sir  Edward  will  tell  his  own  story. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HAS  SOME  REFERENCE  TO  THE  WHY  AND  WHEREFORE. 

KINSMEN  !  the  head  of  the  House  of  Armstrong  is  about  to 
drain  the  cup  of  humiliation  ;  I,  your  sire,  am  going  to  take 
shame  unto  myself  in  the  winter  of  my  days. 

I  have  indited  the  above  score  empty  words,  yet  cannot  get 
beyond  them ;  and  for  the  last  hour  I  have  been  seated  at  my 
writing-table,  gnawing  quills  to  the  stump  in  abject  fatuity.  I 
have  near  my  elbow  the  warranty  of  Doctor  Proudfoot,  my 
physician,  duly  signed  and  attested  to  the  effect  that  I  am 
wholly  sane  of  mind.  I  have  before  me  a  quire  of  foolscap  and 
a  horn  of  ink,  yet  am  pulling  my  beard  in'  lieu  of  a  fretful  duty. 
I  tell  myself  to  play  the  man,  and  so  I  will,  if  God  be  pleased 
to  let  me.  A  conscience  rendered  frail  by  years  (in  its  prime 
'twas  never  of  the  stoutest),  hath  asked  me  many  times  of  late 
whether  it  really  is  my  duty  to  tear  the  mask  from  the  long- 
veiled  face  of  truth  ;  to  lay  bear  the  chiefest  secret  of  my  soul, 
to  degrade  my  gray  hairs  in  your  sight.  Must  I  bequeath  a 
legacy  of  scorn  to  a  memory  that  had  otherwise  been  cherished  ? 
Must  anathema  be  paid  to  him  that  held  his  head  so  high  ?  Is 
this  my  duty  ?  O  God !  methinks  the  expiation  obscures  the 
crime  ! 

I  have  had  this  purpose  in  my  mind  for  years.  This  page 
would  have  been  wrung  from  me  a  generation  earlier,  had  not 
fortitude  been  warped  by  pitiless  adversity.  From  day  to  day 
I  have  shirked  the  task,  promising  my  soul  to  do  it  very  shortly. 
But  as  now  I  know,  the  sands  of  life  have  nearly  run,  I  dare 
delay  no  longer.  Methinks  this  uneasy  head  will  sit  the  kinder 
in  its  coffin,  when  its  owner,  having  paid  the  debt  he  owes  his 
kindred,  comes  in  turn  to  pay  the  debt  dark  nature  claimeth. 

Accordingly  I  put  all  idle  fears  behind,  and  summon  to  my 
aid  every  ounce  of  tottering  resolution.  I  pray  that  my  Peg- 
asus be  endowed  with  strength  sufficient  to  traverse  a  parlous 
path  ;  and  upon  hopes  of  this  pen  now  meets  paper. 

The  lines  grow  quick  before  mine  eyes,  but  at  every  added 
word  of  this  halt  confession  my  cheek  doth  burn  with  pain. 

I  hope  for  no  mercy  from  you,  kinsmen  ;  I  know  your  pride 


2 2  Ml 'STRESS  DOROTHY  MA R  VIN. 

of  birth  too  well.  There  are  some  of  you,  my  children,  decked 
in  your  ruffles  and  your  Mechlin  lace,  secure  in  the  refinement 
of  your  tastes,  in  the  ease  of  your  consciences,  and  the  conse- 
quence of  your  social  states,  who  will  upbraid  me  for  a  scatter- 
brain,  or  flout  me  with  disbelieving  jeers. 

Why  should  I  write  so  much  for  the  disturbance  of  your 
minds,  unless  every  word  this  goose-quill  says  be  true  ?  You 
may  doubt  my  sanity,  so  I  in  forethought  have  provided  the 
sworn  testimony  of  my  sage  friend  Doctor  Proudfoot.  It  alone 
shall  speak  for  the  responsibility  of  my  intellect.  Nigh  fifty 
years  I  have  borne  my  head  high  amidst  my  fellows.  I  have 
been  fawned  upon  and  flattered ;  have  reclined  in  silk  and 
silver  ;  have  had  a  case  of  green  sealed  sack  from  London  every 
month;  have  dispensed  justice  in  the  courthouse;  and  honest 
men  wherever  they  have  walked  "have  breathed  my  name  with 
reverence.  But  now  of  mine  own  free  will  I  prostitute  my 
honorable  name. 

Here  have  I  lived  this  while,  a  skeleton  in  my  closet ;  a  viper 
in  my  breast.  Unsuccessfully  I  have  sought  to  erase  from  my 
recollection  the  awful  stain  that  blots  my  youth  with  infamy. 
I  take  it,  kinsmen,  that  ye  have  seen  the  head  of  your  house,  as 
he  hath  toasted  his  feet  near  the  blaze  on  a  winter's  night, 
writhe  in  the  throes  of  a  quick  convulsion.  Ye  have  watched 
the  livid  terrors  creep  in  his  face  in  a  season  of  mirth  and  sun- 
shine. Or  upon  a  clatter  of  hoofs  on  the  courtyard  flags,  ye 
have  beheld  him  start  up  shuddering  with  twitching  limbs  and 
the  eyes  of  a  hunted  man.  You  have  marvelled  at  these  omens, 
but  the  best  among  you  have  found  them  dark,  unwholesome 
mysteries  ;  and  as  a  book  that  is  closed  to  the  comprehension. 
Now  is  the  viper  brought  forth  blinking  to  the  light!  So  I 
conjure  you  all  to  read;  but,  should  it  please  you  when  the  end 
hath  come,  ye  are  free  to  curse  your  father. 


There  is  a  tradition  in  our  parts,  that  the  most  notorious 
rogue  ever  bred  in  the  West  was  plucked  hence  by  the  devil,  an 
hour  before  his  destined  execution.  Certain  it  is,  the  criminal 
was  ne'er  seen  again  in  the  fle.sh  since  that  eventful  morning  ; 
and,  to  strengthen  the  theories  of  the  vulgar,  the  only  man  in  a 
position  to  throw  light  on  the  strange  event,  went  out  of  his 
mind  by  virtue  of  such  a  dread  phenomenon.  Numberless  ac- 
counts were  written  at  the  time,  numberless  exaggerations  were 
made,  and  numberless  songs  were  sung  concerning  "  Black  Ned 


THE  WHY  AND  WHEREFORE.  23 

and  the  Devil,"  so  that  to  this  hour  the  story  is  told  in  every 
family  in  these  parts  in  a  thousand  different  ways,  with  a  su- 
perb divergence  on  all  immaterial  matters,  but  with  fine  unan- 
imity that  it  was  the  devil  himself  ,  and  none  other  who  honored 
Black  Ned  and  Taunton  gaol  on  that  chimerical  occasion. 

Black  Ned  the  highwayman  built  up  a  mighty  reputation  fifty 
years  agone,  and  to  this  hour  it  hath  endurance.  The  extraordi- 
nary exploits  the  man  performed  thrilled  the  countryside,  and 
made  his  name  a  household  word  in  the  West.  And  now,  my 
cold,  pride-bitten  kinsmen,  consult  Doctor  Proudfoot's  state- 
ment, or  stimulate  your  wits  with  wine,  or  burn  my  slow- 
wrought  narrative;  for  that  same  Black  Ned  afterwards  became 
Sir  Edward  Armstrong,  of  Copeland  Hall — your  father  ! 

Prithee  erase  the  inscription  from  my  tomb  in  the  church  ;  by 
all  means  obliterate  my  name  from  the  Armstrong  tablets  ;  then, 
if  ye  can,  efface  grim  History  !  Kinsmen,  I  mock  ye  with  the 
bitter  levity  of  a  lifetime's  gall. 

In  the  following  singular  story  I  will  show  you  in  what  man- 
ner my  soul  was  lost,  and  how  by  God's  mercy  it  was  in  a 
measure  regained.  Now  and  then,  in  the  course  of  it,  stirring 
events,  landmarks  of  history,  may  be  touched  upon.  Perchance 
the  recounting  of  them  may  differ  in  minute  particulars  from 
what  Mr.  Oldmixon  hath  set  down  in  his  chronicles.  I  advise 
you  to  lay  this  to  a  failing  memory,  for  I  would  not  will- 
ingly lead  you  into  bootless  controversy  with  men  of  letters.  I 
shall  be  perfectly  honest  throughout  my  statement.  I  shall 
neither  offer  palliation  nor  excuse,  nor  shall  I  crave  your  pity. 
Yet  I  would  have  you,  the  children  of  a  noble  land,  remember 
she  owes  the  world's  part  of  her  grandeur  to  the  fidelity,  the 
loyalty,  the  bright  courage  and  manliness  of  her  sons  (your 
fathers)  who  have  built  up  a  freedom  of  thought  and  action  for 
a  supercilious  posterity,  by  the  mortal  sweat  of  their  brows,  and 
the  spilling  of  many  drops  of  their  life's  blood.  Upon  this 
common  ground  alone  do  I  look  for  the  slender  store  of  gener- 
osity I  am  like  to  get. 

Dissertation  is  done,  and  I  have  merely  proffered  this  pre- 
liminary that  you  may  know  what  my  purpose  is  for  saying  so 
much  hereafter. 

Two  falchions  gules,  on  a  field  argent,  with  the  inscription 
"Per  crucem  ad  coronam"  is  the  coat  of  arms  that  represents 
our  house.  So  it  hath  stood  for  centuries,  though  I  know  not 
how  many  bars,  quarterings,  and  transoms  have  been  added 
thereto,  throughout  those  past  ages,  by  deeds  glorious  or  other- 
wise. It  is  our  boast  that  broad  lands  were  ours  long,  ere  the 


24  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

covetous  Norman  came ;  indeed,  we  do  affirm,  that  when  King 
Alfred  met  the  Danes  in  combat,  the  Armstrongs  mustered  by 
their  liege  lord.  So  be  it ;  yet  you  learn  more  of  this  than  I, 
for  my  head  is  too  old  to  be  concerned  at  all  about  chronology. 
It  doth  suffice  to  set  me  self-complacent,  to  know  that  should  I 
hie  across  the  stream,  I  may  set  eyes  on  crumbling  tablets 
hewn  from  stone  and  marble,  which  recount  how  valiant  fore- 
fathers bled  at  Poictiers  and  Crecy. 

Well  can  I  recollect  how,  years  ago,  half  a  dozen  of  you 
younkers  came  a-running  to  me  with,  "  Do  you  come  and  see 
with  us  in  the  churchyard,  father.  We  have  surely  found  the 
tomb  of  one  of  the  Armstrongs  who  perished  at  Senlac."  Away 
I  went  with  you,  for  were  ye  not  my  taskmasters  in  those  days  ? 
But  Nicholas,  who  has  more  knowledge  in  matters  antiquarian 
than  any  three  of  the  rest  of  you,  hath  since  overruled  that 
precious  childish  discovery. 

Ah,  well-a-day  !  we  will  say  no  more  in  regard  to  such  musty 
memories.  Copeland  Hall  ever  harbored  a  warlike  race.  Much 
too  prone  to  adventure  and  knightly  feats  with  sword  and 
buckler  were  its  martial  children. 

Great  deeds — deeds  to  thrill  the  heart  with  pride — were 
wrought  in  strange  lands  by  its  warlike  sons,  and  on  fierce  fields 
of  conflict  in  our  own  dear  country  too.  Kinsmen,  you  who 
hold  your  heads  so  high,  may  guess  quite  well  the  Armstrong 
pride  of  race,  'tis  fixt  at  a  higher  altitude  than  any  in  our 
county.  And  in  face  of  you,  and  in  face  of  this,  I  make  bold 
to  say  that  had  we  been  more  given  to  bowing  our  heads  to  our 
fellow-men,  and  our  stubborn  knees  to  God,  methinks  it  had 
very  often  happened  the  better  for  your  fathers.  This  defiance 
of  spirit  cost  your  sire  dear,  hence  his  doctrine  of  humility. 

To  travel  down  to  later  times,  and  to  matters  which  concern 
you  and  me  more  nearly,  my  father  was  born  in  the  reign  of  the 
first  King  James,  on  a  May  morning  in  the  year  1630,  fourteen 
months  after  his  brother  Peter  had  arrived  in  the  world.  He 
was  twelve  years  old  when  the  Royal  Standard  was  raised  at 
Nottingham ;  and  by  that  deed  our  country  was  torn  in  twain. 
Her  sons  were  at  one  another's  throats  in  the  crudest  inward 
strife  that  e'er  hath  wrought  bloodshed  in  our  fair  land.  Men 
could  not  stand  aloof ;  there  was  no  neutrality.  Their  neigh- 
bors dubbed  them  Cavalier  or  Roundhead,  either  one  or  t'other, 
for  fight  they  must. 

My  grandfather,  Sir  Jasper  Armstrong,  having  the  family 
leaven  fermenting  high  within  him,  needed  no  incentive  to 
choose  his  side  ;  but  straightway  struck  for  the  Parliament, 


THE   WHY  AND   WHEREFORE.  25 

and  as  heretofore  our  house  was  opposed  to  tyranny  from  any 
man.  At  Roundway  Down  the  baronet  met  with  a  grievous 
scathe.  A  petard  struck  him  in  the  left  thigh,  and  ever  after- 
wards he  hobbled  perforce,  most  painfully,  until  death  claimed 
him  in  the  year  of  the  Restoration. 

He  had  been  a  shrewd  and  thrifty  man,  and  mine  uncle  Peter, 
who  took  the  title,  thus  found  the  coffers  full,  and  the  estate 
void  of  the  least  encumbrance.  He,  it  should  be  said,  had  an- 
other thing  that  came  part  and  parcel  from  Sir  Jasper,  for  just 
as  he  had  his  father's  lands  and  wealth  by  hereditament,  he 
also  had  his  careful  little-spending  mind  by  nature;  so  he  in  his 
turn  worthily  carried  this  laudable  chest-filling  process  forward. 
Howbeit,  I  must  observe,  this  trait,  a  mere  pleasing  idiosyn- 
cracy  in  the  sire,  was,  by  the  son,  pushed  beyond  a  virtue.  I' 
faith,  I  have  heard  men  say,  did  he  lay  down  a  paltry  groat,  he 
would  have  back  a  silver  shilling  for  his  recompense  ;  and  this 
I  do  ascribe  unworthy  of  our  family. 

Sir  Jasper  had  been  sepultured  two  years,  when  John,  his 
second  son,  bethought  himself  of  braving  the  perils  of  wedlock. 
Hence  he  took  Jane  Ashburton  in  matrimony. 

My  mother's  father  was  the  famous  Colonel  Ashburton,  who 
did  such  credit  to  the  Puritan  arms  during  the  great  Civil  War. 
He  resided  in  Taunton,  and  though  himself  a  staunch  Independ- 
ent, his  daughter  had  little  of  the  zealot's  bigotry,  but  was 
well  endowed  with  sense. 

My  father  also  was  a  plain  and  godly  man,  untainted  by 
fanatic  rant,  high-thinking,  speech-sparing,  and  wholly  peaceful 
in  his  creed. 

Thus  my  parents  gave  small  heed  to  the  narrow  sectaries 
of  their  time,  but  worshipped  God  in  the  manner  they  held  be- 
coming ;  whereby  true  religion  pervaded  all  our  household.  I, 
Edward  Armstrong,  was  the  first  pledge  of  their  union.  Two 
other  children  were  also  the  outcome  of  it ;  my  brother  John 
and  my  sister  Betty.  It  doth  appear  an  odd  contingency,  see- 
ing that  the  stock  from  which  my  father  sprang  was  so  hot- 
blooded  and  adventurous,  that  he  should  be  content  to  abide  in 
a  little  hamlet,  shut  off  well-nigh  altogether  from  men  and  the 
outer  world  and  the  big  affairs  of  life.  He  chose  a  farmstead 
in  Chilverley  village,  which  nestles  in  the  heart  of  the  Quan- 
tock  Hills,  as  the  spot  in  which  to  pass  his  wedded  life.  And 
such  was  the  unambitious  nature  of  the  man  that  I  verily  be- 
lieve he  would  have  preferred  to  raise  choice  turnip  crops  than 
to  have  become  a  great  commander. 

His  piety  had  all  the  depths  of  silent  waters  :  he  had  nought 


26  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MAR  VIN. 

to  say  anent  it."  He  never  would  allow  that  God  was  glorified 
by  mere  lip-labor,  or  that  the  tongue  alone  could  prove  a  man  a 
Christian.  No,  that  never  was  his  way  ;  for  if  he  gave  much 
thought  to  sacred  things,  he  seldom  mouthed  a  holy  sentiment. 
He  read  but  one  book,  and  that  book  was  the  Bible.  Tighter 
than  wax  did  he  stick  to  the  Ten  Commandments.  Forsooth 
they  formed  his  choicest  dogmas,  and  embodied  all  his  Chris- 
tian principles.  His  hatred  of  a  lie  was  truly  marvellous ;  like- 
wise of  all  hypocrisy,  of  blasphemy,  and  of  double-dealing. 
As  for  his  faith,  'twas  almost  childlike  in  simplicity.  Once,  as 
I  remember,  indeed  it  was  the  day  I  was  eight  years  old,  he 
lifted  me  on  his  knee. 

"  Hearken,  my  pretty  lad  !  "  he  said  ;  "  wouldst  like  to  go  to 
heaven  ?" 

"  Ay,  that  I  should,  daddy." 

He  placed  in  my  hand  a  little  brown-backed  Bible,  which 
that  same  morning  he  had  purchased  from  Taunton. 

"This  will  take  thee  there,  my  pretty  boy,"  he  said,  in  his 
slow,  half-smiling  way.  "  Cherish  it,  lad,  and  ye'll  have  no  call 
to  be  Churchman,  Presbyterian,  or  Anabaptist." 

For  sobriety,  only  one  man  matched  him  in  the  place,  and  he 
was  the  blacksmith,  Master  Hancock.  'Twas  a  fitting  thing 
that  they  should  consort  together.  Oft-times  have  the  twain 
sate  face  to  face  beside  our  hearthstone  of  an  evening,  when 
their  carnal  indulgence  assumed  the  shape  of  three  pipes  apiece 
of  Triniclado  tobacco,  and  a  bowl  of  the  richest  rum  punch  be- 
tween them.  Seeing  that  it  was  mother's  brew,  I  know  'twas 
as  good  as  I've  declared.  Trust  a  woman  to  look  to  creature 
comforts  !  And  foremost  in  the  sex  for  attention  to  the  same 
will  I  place  my  mother,  Mistress  Armstrong. 

Her  pride  lay  in  her  concoctions.  Justly  it  became  her  boast, 
that  her  press  sent  forth  the  choicest  cider  in  the  county.  Not 
that  she  thought  overmuch  as  regards  the  liquids,  because,  as 
father  went  so  shy  of  them,  they  were  but  scantily  requested. 
Her  greatest  care  was  lavished  on  things  eatable.  She  was 
without  a  peer  in  the  high  piling  of  dish  and  platter  with  deli- 
cious meats,  pies,  conserves,  pasties,  and  such-like  stomach 
ticklers.  "  Poor  trencherman,  poor  servant,"  was  her  maxim. 
Good  nature  and  good  temper  ever  held  the  sway  of  her,  whilst 
her  liberality  was  truly  noble,  since  she  knew  no  stint  in  giving 
whenever  her  purse  allowed.  Should  any  ill  befall  a  villager, 
he  had  but  to  apply  to  Dame  Armstrong,  and  the  remedy  was 
forthcoming.  Did  the  crops  fail,  each  sufferer  was  welcome  to 
her  purse,  her  pantry,  and  her  sympathy.  Her  bounty  ne'er 


'  THE  WHY  AND  WHEREFORE.  27 

was  sought  in  vain,  for  this  was  her  religion.  No  time  did  she 
spend  in  praising  the  Lord,  when  victuals  lay  in  the  pan,  or 
when  hosen  had  need  of  darning  ;  whilst  after  her  husband's 
manner,  she  accounted  honesty  the  most  cardinal  of  virtues. 

Being  thus  reared  midst  sound  precept  and  rigid  moral  recti- 
tude, my  upbringing  should  have  equipped  me  more  surely 
than  a  coat  of  mail  for  the  stern  battles  of  early  manhood  and 
maturity.  But  alack  !  the  best  armed  may  not  be  the  boldest 
warriors. 

From  babyhood  my  chief  delight  was  the  fresh  air  and  the 
fields.  I  was  rarely  happy  unless  rambling  mid  the  hills  and 
valleys,  and  kicking  my  heels  among  the  rocks  and  heather.  I 
could  not  abide  inertion,  but  must  be  abroad  on  a  new  mischief, 
reckless  of  limb  and  skin,  as  behoved  a  youthful  scion  of  those 
great  spirited  old  Armstrongs. 

It  is  on  record  that  your  hapless  sire  was  picked  out  thrice  in 
a  single  week — and  on  the  point  of  drowning  too — from  his 
father's  horse-pond,  he  having  found  that  insalubrious  spot  by 
tumbling  thence  from  an  adjacent  beech  tree,  that  had  enticed 
him  by  the  hope  of  nuts. 

Concerning  education,  I  am  afeared  the  sum  of  my  book- 
learning  doth  muster  a  meek  totality.  I  hated  it,  and  there's 
the  truth  !  though  my  master,  a  deep  scholar  of  Cambridge, 
strove  with  monumental  patience  to  knock,  coax,  or  wheedle 
notions  of  Greek  aorists  and  iambics  into  my  empty  noddle. 
Still  the  task  was  bootless.  Scholarship  and  I  did  ne'er  agree. 
Nest-seeking  and  tree-climbing  were  more  to  my  mind  than 
the  rule  of  three  ;  and  if  my  knowledge  was  modest  in  algebra- 
ics  and  the  classic  lore,  touching  birds'  eggs  'twas  unlimited. 
I  am  aware  this  does  not  redound  to  my  credit,  yet  am  convinced 
that  the  minds  of  healthy  boys  are  more  prone  to  dwell  thereon 
than  on  feats  of  learning. 

My  boyhood  was  uneventful,  save  that  when  I  arrived  at  ten 
years  of  age  I  fell  off  a  fence  and  broke  my  arm  ;  also  at 
Christmas  time,  in  that  same  year,  I  came  near  ending  my  life 
altogether,  as  I  chanced  to  slip  into  the  stream  in  the  bed  of 
the  ravine  when  it  was  topped  with  a  coat  of  ice.  School  days 
over,  I  assisted  father  on  the  farm ;  being  content  to  do  this 
until  I  had  passed  my  twenty-first  birthday.  Then  befell  the 
event  which  hath  brought  about  this  history. 

As  I  remember,  it  occurred  some  time  in  hay-harvest.  Our 
household  ne'er  seemed  more  full  of  harmony,  nor  the  beauteous 
Quantock  country  more  scented  with  kindly  peace  and  quie- 
tude. There  appeared  no  hint  of  coming  trouble ;  no  sign  of 


28  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN, 

the  dread  fatality  that  was  to  bathe  the  West  in  blood.  Twas 
one  evening,  as  the  family  sat  at  supper,  when  the  first  token 
of  disturbance  came.  Just  before  the  meal  was  clone,  our 
kitchen  doorway  was  shadowed  by  the  form  of  the  huge  Tobe 
Hancock.  His  face  was  livid  with  excitement,  and  his  eyes 
were  big  and  bright  with  a  restless  lustre. 

"  Vairmer  Jan,"  he  burst  out,  "  hast  heerd  th'  news?  Tha 
Duke  o'  Moonmouth  landed  at  Lyme  yester  mornin' !  We 
mist  go  vaight  vor  'im  !  " 

Here  was  the  prologue  to  the  tragedy.  The  Duke  had  come 
and  declared  himself  the  champion  of  the  Protestant  religion, 
though  the  historians  always  said,  and  with  a  singular  consensus 
of  opinion,  that  he  came  not  from  the  Hague  on  any  matter  of 
faith,  but  to  wrest  the  crown  from  King  James,  his  uncle,  that 
it  might  ornament  his  own  ambitious  brow. 

This  Monmouth  was  the  bastard  son  of  Charles  II.,  by  Lucy 
Walters,  one  of  his  late  Majesty's  many  mistresses ;  and,  to 
support  his  claim  to  the  Throne,  contended  that  he  was  a  legit- 
imate child,  declaring  the  King  duly  married  his  mother.  Be 
this  as  it  may,  I  never  thought  enough  upon  the  theme  to  learn 
how  just  was  his  pretension.  What  I  do  know  is,  that  father 
and  Tobias  sat  a-talking  these  infectious  tidings  over  until  the 
small  hours  of  the  morning. 

A  thorough-going  Puritan  was  the  blacksmith,  who  stuck 
close  by  his  tenets,  and  one  of  that  uncompromising  bull-dog 
breed  that  had  consigned  Charles  I.  to  the  block.  The  news  of 
the  Duke's  arrival  had  ignited  his  fiery  soul.  Fondly  he 
believed  that  His  Grace  had  come  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
restoring  the  Protestant  faith  ;  therefore  he  thought  it  became 
all  men  to  strike  for  the  true  religion. 

There  was  no  sleep  for  me  that  night ;  and  long  before  the 
first  streaks  of  light  stole  out  of  the  east,  there  was  my  mind  at 
least  made  up,  and  my  great  determination  taken.  In  the  early 
morning,  when  father  and  Bill  Kyte,  the  farm  hand,  came  to 
the  tool-shed,  they  found  me  there,  burnishing  the  welded  steel 
headpiece  of  my  maternal  grandfather. 

No  sooner  had  I  swallowed  breakfast  than  I  ran  round  the 
corner  by  the  church  to  the  village  forge.  For  once  the  jang- 
ling hammer  lay  unplied  ;  the  leathern  apron  was  discarded. 
In  the  little  parlor  behind  the  workshop  I  found  the  blacksmith. 
A  strange  collection  littered  the  table,  and  over  it  Tobe  Han- 
cock bent  his  eager  body. 

The  first  article  to  catch  my  eye  was  an  old  collar  of  bando- 
leers, with  bullet-bag,  cords,  rings,  and  primer  all  affixed  thereto, 


THE  WHY  AND  WHEREFORE.  29 

though  in  sad  need  of  adjustment.  Hard  by  reclined  a  brace 
of  pistols,  encumbered  by  a  coat  of  rust ;  and,  to  complete  this 
warlike  collocation,  were  a  snap-hance  carbine,  a  half-pike,  a 
"  hog's  bristle,"  *  a  buff  leather  tunic,  and  a  pikeman's  pot- 
helmet.  The  owner  of  these  hostile  implements  was  busily 
renovating  a  corselet  of  rusty  steel. 

"Thease  wan  was  mi  vaither's,  Ned,"  he  said,  holding  it  out 
for  my  inspection.  "Thease  yer  brit  was  dued  at  Naseby,  lad," 
and  he  placed  his  finger  in  a  deep  dent  of  the  metal. 

A  long  talk  had  we  that  morning.  The  upshot  was  to  arrange 
to  set  out  for  Monmouth's  camp  in  company  next  day.  The 
blacksmith* was  brimming  with  enthusiasm — in  fact,  he  was  a 
zealot.  Like  good  workmen,  we  labored  as  we  talked.  With  a 
grumbling  wonderment  did  old  Joan  (Tobe's  serving  woman) 
watch  us  rub  away  each  speck  of  rust  from  cankered  steel  and 
ordnance.  She  having  nursed  Tobias  in  his  babyhood,  'twas 
her  privilege  to  draw  good  wages,  and  to  grumble  till  her  tongue 
grew  tired. 

The  tools  of  war  had  been  taken  from  an  ancient  chest,  whence 
they  had  lain  since  the  end  of  the  Great  Civil  War ;  the  father 
and  uncle  of  the  blacksmith  having  been  numbered  among  Noll 
Cromwell's  host. 

My  head  was  whirling  with  many  anxious  matters  as  I  hied 
back  to  the  farm,  hugging  the  snap-hance  and  the  tunic  which 
Tobe  had  given  me.  My  heart  rose  at  the  mere  thought  of 
what  valorous  deeds  I  should  encompass  in  the  fast-approach- 
ing future.  Our  homestead  seemed  so  sleepy  to  me  now,  that 
methought  it  beyond  endurance. 

However,  a  great  battle  had  to  be  fought.  All  day  in  silence 
my  father  had  heeded  my  demeanor.  'Twas  in  the  evening 
that  I  first  spoke  of  my  resolution.  Mother,  John,  and  Betty 
were  strangely  startled ;  they  had  not  observed  what  was  pass- 
ing through  my  mind.  Father  showed  no  surprise,  but  simply 
looked  grave,  then  sighed. 

"  Ah,  Ned,"  said  he,  "  I  was  afeared  of  this.  I  marked  you 
when  Tobias  told  the  news  last  night.  Methinks  'twere  best 
you  stayed  at  home  ;  scant  good  can  come  of  this  affair.  May- 
hap the  cause  is  a  goodly  one,  yet  a  handful  of  men  cannot 
hope  for  aught  better  than  a  sore  hide  against  an  army." 

"  All  the  West  will  flock  to  the  Duke,"  said  I. 

*  A  "  hog's  bristle,"  or  Swedish  feather,  was  a  weapon  introduced  into 
the  English  army  in  the  reign  of  James  I.  It  consisted  of  a  single  steel 
blade  of  considerable  length,  and  was  for  the  protection  of  the  musketeer 
after  he  had  discharged  his  piece. — EDITOR. 


3° 


MIS  TA' ESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 


"  No  matter,"  was  his  answer,  "  'twill  be  without  avail.  Use- 
less I  trow  to  pit  chawbacons  against  the  trained  soldiers  of 
the  King." 

"  But  Tobe  says  MacCullum  More  is  to  create  a  big  rising  in 
Scotland." 

"  If  so  'twill  make  no  difference.  At  least,  lad,  have  a  care 
for  your  skin  ;  besides,  if  ye  leave  a  peaceful  domicile  to  shed 
blood,  it  will  go  to  my  very  heart.  Perchance  I  am  too  nice 
i'  th'  stomach,  for  a  true  Armstrong,  yet  I  speak  as  my  feelings 
direct.  Forbear,  my  lad,  from  this  perilous  action." 

He  talked  long  and  earnestly  to  this  effect.  Howbeit,  I  dog- 
gedly pressed  the  point,  as  I  was  one  who,  having  once  my 
heart  upon  a  thing,  would  waver  not  in  quest  thereof  ;  and  so 
by  sheer  persistence  would  get  my  will. 

'Twas  near  midnight  when  Tobe  Hancock  came  to  bid  good- 
bye to  father.  Thus  our  grave  talking  was  disturbed,  and  well 
pleased  I  was  on  that  account — methought  the  blacksmith  would 
surely  speak  on  my  behalf. 

When  our  conference  dissolved  it  was  close  by  two  of  the 
clock  in  the  morning.  And  one  was  hurt  and  disappointed. 
At  the  outset  Tobias  was  all  for  me.  He  called  up  every  argu- 
ment he  could  lay  his  tongue  to,  that  he  might  win  consent  for 
me  to  ride  with  him  to  Monmouth.  For  long  enough  he  urged 
my  cause ;  tho' to  small  purpose  did  he  lend  his  breath;  my 
parent  was  firmer  than  a  rock.  Then,  having  learned  how  in- 
flexible his  disapproval  was,  Tobe  veered  round  altogether. 

"  Thee  midden  goa,  lad.  Obey  thy  vaither,  'e  knaw'th  best," 
quoth  he. 

This  doctrine  of  filial  obedience  hit  me  hard,  although 
naught  else  could  he  have  counselled.  Out  of  righteousness 
alone  he  would  have  been  the  tardiest  of  men  to  bid  me  defy 
my  parents.  Therefore  the  pair  of  them  decreed  that  I  must 
bide  at  home. 

That  night  I  never  slept.  I  was  young  then,  my  spirit  ran 
high  and  bold,  and  blood  was  frisky  in  the  veins. 

Reverently  I  carried  to  my  chamber  those  arms  and  equip- 
ments which  were  to  have  done  such  noble  service,  and 
deposited  them  at  the  bed  foot,  that  my  eyes  might  rest  upon 
their  glory.  As  a  lump  of  lead  was  my  blighted  heart ;  and, 
alas,  something  like  anger  couched  within  it.  Every  daydream 
of  honor  and  victory  had  fled — fled  to  gall  and  mockery.  I 
rolled  over  every  inch  of  my  uneasy  bed,  spirit-chafed,  balked, 
and  at  war  with  all  save  my  ill-used  self,  whom  I  greatly  pitied. 

Until  the  coming  of  the  dawn  the  moonlight  glinted  on  the 


THE  WHY  AND  WHEREFORE.  3: 

shimmering  metal  at  my  feet,  which  seemed  to  flout  and  tempt 
me,  with  its  new  unwonted  beauty.  Wickedness  went  crawling 
through  my  mind  now  and  then,  and  it  needed  all  my  strength 
to  fight  it.  No  sooner  did  daylight  reappear,  than  t  dressed 
myself,  and  took  my  heavy  head  into  the  cold  air.  I  wandered 
about  with  neither  aim  nor  purpose.  Naught  could  allay  my 
vague  disquietude,  though  I  sluiced  head  and  face  with  chill 
water,  and  afterwards  set  to  work  with  such  senseless  vigor, 
that  sweat  dripped  from  my  forehead.  Cold  and  perspiration 
made  no  jot  of  difference,  and  having  thus  tried  both,  I  perched 
on  a  stile  for  a  weary  hour,  balanced  myself  on  the  topmost 
rung,  and  kicked  my  legs  at  space. 

Thus  was  I  occupied,  when  a  clatter  of  hoofs  came  distinct 
from  the  road,  which  ran  in  my  vicinity.  I  set  my  feet  on  the 
highest  rail,  that  I  might  obtain  a  fuller  view  of  horse  and  rider 
as  the  twain  passed  by.  I  beheld  a  mottled,  raw-boned  mare  ; 
and  a  large  fellow,  whose  form  I  should  have  known  the  wide 
world  over,  was  astride  her.  'Twas  Tobe  Hancock,  away  to 
Monmouth. 

Were  I  younger  I  might  weep  on  what  follows,  as  I  write  ; 
kinsmen,  my  fingers  tremble  as  I  grasp  'the  pen.  Without  a 
moment's  tarrying  I  leapt  down  from  my  perch,  and  ran  back 
to  the  house.  None  were  astir,  so  I  made  straight  for  that 
seductive  heap  of  leather  and  metal,  lying  upon  my  bed.  At 
another  time  it  must  have  been  a  great  while  ere  I  had  accoutred 
myself,  yet  in  some  peculiar  fashion  I  made  the  buff  coat  fit 
middling  well,  though  it  called  for  time  and  temper  ever  after 
to  make  it  do  so.  With  lively  fingers  I  girded  on  the  sword, 
and  affixed  my  grandfather's  headpiece  on  my  mad-brained 
pate ;  emptied  my  slender  store  of  money  from  its  usual 
receptacle  into  my  breeches'  pocket;  and  finally  pinned  a  paper 
on  my  pillow,  with,  "  I  am  gone  to  the  wars,"  upon  it. 

Below  stairs  I  then  returned  ;  but  not  as  I  had  ascended, 
since  my  equipment,  being  none  of  the  lightest,  forbade  undue 
activity.  Soon  I  had  old  Peggy  saddled  ;  double-quick  her 
head  was  turned  towards  the  town  of  Taunton  ;  and  away  I 
went  to  the  wars. 

Would  to  God  that  on  this  woeful  errand  I  ne'er  had  passed 
the  peat  rick  at  the  corner.  Here  you  have  my  first  deep  sin. 
Bitter,  bitter,  was  the  consequence  of  this  first  desertion  from 
the  cause  of  right !  On  the  ill-fated  campaign  I  will  not  dilate ; 
of  the  things  that  happened  ye  know  full  well. 

How  the  Duke  came  to  Taunton  amidst  the  joy  of  the  people, 
with  what  high  hopes  all  flocked  to  his  standard  ;  and  how  that 


32  AfJSTKESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

flock  was  scattered  to  the  four  winds  of  heaven,  and  those 
hopes  crushed  forever,  at  Sedgemoor  Field.  To  me,  who  was 
there  that  day,  it  seems  but  a  vision  now,  of  sturdy,  stout-hearted 
fellows,  standing  up  to  be  shot  at,  for  Bussex  Rhine  lay 
betwixt  us  and  the  forces  of  the  King.  Shall  I  ever  forget  that 
thunder  of  hoofs,  as  the  Horse  Guards  Blue  came  charging 
down  upon  us  ?  What  chance  had  bill-hooks  and  scythes 
against  those  flashing  blades,  the  swish  of  whose  every  stroke 
dealt  death.  Still  we  fought  till  no  strength  was  left.  The 
Mt-ndip  miners,  the  Blackdown  shepherds,  and  the  simple 
husbandmen  of  the  villages,  budged  not  a  foot,  as  that 
murderous  horde  of  horse  and  men  swept  forth  and  slew  them 
where  they  stood. 

Tobe  and  I  fought  thigh  by  thigh ;  yet  in  the  first  wild  onfall 
I  found  myself  grovelling  in  the  blood-wet  grass.  I  struggled 
somehow  to  my  feet,  tho'  every  moment  our  comrades  were  cut 
down  by  the  score.  Tobias  distributed  lusty  blows  to  all  and 
sundry ;  his  blade  cleft  deep  where'er  it  struck.  I  saw  him 
dealing  out  those  fearsome  knocks,  till  a  cavalryman's  sword 
spun  and  whistled  above  my  head,  next  my  shoulder  went  quite 
numbed  and  useless ;  a  bloody  mist  swam  before  mine  eyes, 
and  for  the  rest  I  cannot  say. 

This  was  the  glorious  dream  of  war  ! 

Propitious  Providence  saved  me  from  the  trampling  hoofs,  as 
they  careered  over  the  battlefield  ;  and  I  was  left  with  life  enough 
to  creep  back  home,  beaten  well-nigh  unto  death.  Better  far  had 
my  carcase  rotted  in  Sedgemoor  marshes,  for  now  there  comes 
an  awful  feature  of  my  tale.  Mother  cried,  out  of  both  sorrow 
and  gladness,  that  my  life  was  spared,  though  so  very  little  of 
it.  Father  chid  me  not,  but  was  thankful  for  my  return. 

Forthwith  I  was  put  to  bed,  and  a  chirurgeon  was  called  to 
dress  the  hurt.  Still,  despite  his  energy  and  vigilance,  for  a 
whole  week  I  lingered  by  the  verge  of  the  Abyss.  All  that 
time  no  word  came  of  Tobias  Hancock,  and  he  was  mourned 
as  a  dead  man  in  the  village. 

My  injury,  thanks  to  much  maternal  care,  in  the  end  assumed 
kind  ways,  and  slowly  took  to  healing.  However,  one  day,  as 
I  was  basking  in  the  warmth  of  summer  sunshine,  there  befell 
this  grievous  thing.  I  sate  thus  in  an  open  field,  my  face  white, 
much  pinched,  and  woebegone,  and  my  shoulder  swathed  in 
many  bandages,  when  without  portent  or  word  of  warning,  an 
ugly,  black-bearded  wretch  shot  his  unclean  countenance  over 
the  privet  hedge.  Quite  as  quick  he  shot  it  back,  and  bawled 
in  a  tremendous  key  to  some  one  down  the  road — 


THE    WHY  AND  WHEREFORE.  33 

"  Do  you  come  here  this  minute,  Dick  !  As  I  live,  here  is 
another  on  'em." 

Straightway  he  bundled  through  the  hedge,  and  came  and 
stood  beside  me.  As  I  beheld  the  man's  appearance,  a  thrill 
of  fear  jumped  thro'  my  brain.  There  was  no  mistaking  the 
uniform  he  wore,  though  so  ripped,  .and  rent,  and  blacked  with 
mud.  'Twas  the  King's. 

"  Lay  me  bleeding  !  "  he  cried,  grinning  in  my  face  ;  "  a 
damned  rebel,  as  I  hope  for  salvation.  Oh,  oh,  my  poppet, 
ye're  as  snivelled  as  a  sucking  calf !  If  ye  ain't  a  whelp  o' 
Monmouth's,  then  I'm  a  sinner." 

"  Ay,  we  know  ye're  that,  Old  Wiggle,"  sang  out  another  of 
the  species,  as  he  scrambled  through  the  fence.  "  What  hath 
that  pig-sticking  maw  o'  thine  lit  on  now?  Some  whining  Jack 
Presbyter,  I'll  swear." 

This  animal  was  a  variation  of  the  breed,  as  granting  his 
visage  was  equally  ripe  for  Newgate,  he  bore  himself  with  a 
swaggering  gait,  and  waved  his  sword  aloft,  the  point  of  which 
was  stuck  in  a  fine  fat  cheese  ! 

"  Strike  me  stiff  !  "  this  rogue  said,  "  this  be  a  right  goodly 
spot  to  hie  to.  A  lack  of  rebels,  but  no  stint  o'  bull  beef,  pork, 
and  cider.  Mighty  poor  stomachs  have  these  'ere  clowns  for 
fighting,  but  damnation  good  uns  for  Christian  fare  and  victuals. 
L'ap'n  did  right  well  to  bring  us  hither,  outlandish  place  an  it 
be.  Yon  little  farm's  the  snuggest  as  ivver  I  seed.  An'  all  the 
boys  boozy  as  lords ^  Bodkin's  i' the  ditch,  Cap'n's  a  rolling; 
and  Sile  Bickersteth  and  his  brother  Bill  are  a-sluicing  of  one 
another  wi'  mulberry  wine.  Sich  a  flow  of  honest  malt  and 
throat-tickling  liquor  I  never  did  see  afore;  and  s'elp  me  Holy 
Mary,  hams  and  bacon  flitches  are  thick  as  rats  in  a  stack  o' 
corn'!  " 

"That  sooth,  friend  Dick?  Then  methinks  'twere  meet 
Old  Wiggle  should  be  among  'em.  He  hath  a  cultivated  taste 
for  sich  like  tuck.  Do  you  mind  the  prisoner,  Dickie  darlin', 
while  I'm  gone,  an  '  I'll  bring  Cap'n  back  along  wi'  me  to  settle 
this  'ere  job,  as  the  lawyers,  an  'heducated  pussons  like  meself 
would  say — in  toto  /" 

The  first  comer  took  himself  away  to  find  this  appetizing  pro- 
vender. He  having  gotten  out  of  earshot,  the  gentleman  of 
the  name  of  Dick  produced  a  horn  of  cider  from  his  coat 
pocket,  and  fell  a-drinking,  and  at  the  same  time  bolted  other 
booty,  seeing  that  he  gulped  down  the  cheese  in  most  tremen- 
dous slices. 

"  He,  he  !  "  Dick  growled  to  himself,  betwixt  the  mouthfuls, 


34  M/STKESS  DOXOTHY  MARVIN. 

"  best  go  seek  for  thyself,  Old  Wiggle,  thy  dirty  claws  shall 
have  none  o  '  this.  I  would  that  rebels  must  be  seized  -every 
day  o  '  the  year  i '  Somerset !  " 

Presently  a  body  of  them  came  along,  Old  Wiggle  foremost 
of  any.  A  roystering  ribald  crew  they  were,  fuddled  for  the 
most  part.  One  half  of  them  rolled  from  side  to  side  like  ships 
belated.  Some  waved  their  swords  to  the  tune  of  a  filthy 
chorus,  whilst  others  trailed  them  through  the  roadway'3  muck 
and  mire  in  sheer  inanity.  This  licentious  band  formed  a  part 
of  the  most  drunken  and  ferocious  regiment  in  the  whole  of  the 
British  Army.  Ye  have  heard  tell,  children,  of  "  Kirke's  Lambs  " 
or  "  Tangiers  Devils  " — these  being  the  names  they  went  by 
— whose  manifold  wickednesses  have  been  handed  down  to 
succeeding  generations.  "  Kirke's  Lambs,"  indeed  !  Shake- 
speare may  be  dead,  but  the  excellent  art  of  irony  hath  not 
died  with  him,  for  here  we  have  the  living  proof  that  it  still 
doth  rear  its  comely  head  among-st  us.  These  devils  in  the 
guise  of  men,  tho'  they  ne'er  scrupled  in  wholesale  committal  of 
those  twin  monstrosities,  murder  and  rapine,  were  actually  let 
loose  on  the  defenceless  country  folk.  It  hath  been  asserted 
that  their  ferocity  was  first  occasioned  during  foreign  service, 
by  their  intercourse  with  the  barbarians  at  Tangiers.  This  day, 
however,  their  bellies  were  so  overladen  with  the  food  they  had 
gorged,  and  their  heads  so  heavy  with  the  liquor  they  had  guz- 
zled, for  their  owners  to  be  much  worse  than  imbecile. 

The  unchristian  crew  promptly  came  around  me,  and  with 
them  was  the  officer  in  command,  who  in  bibulosity  appeared 
by  no  means  inferior  to  any  among  his  company.  By  him  I 
was  freely  plied  with  questions.  As  yet  I  had  not  learned  to 
tell  a  lie,  hence  my  treason  against  the  King  was  at  once  dis- 
covered ;  and  upon  the  spot  I  was  taken  into  custody. 

Hereabouts  mother  chanced  to  come  to  see  how  her  invalid 
was  getting  on.  She  was  seized  with  a  trembling  horror  when 
she  learned  what  had  occurred. 

"  Be  not  so  afeared,  good  dame,"  implored  Old  Wiggle,  grin- 
ning unctiously.  "  I've  heard  say  that  my  Lord  Jeffreys  is  a- 
coming  from  London.  He  will  have  him  turned  off  decent, 
mistress,  so  do  not  fret,  I  prithee." 

Dick  then  chucked  her  under  the  chin  with  malignant  im- 
pudence, and  a  third  insulted  her  most  grossly.  I,  unhappy 
wretch  I  must  have  been,  tried  twice  to  rise  and  defend  her, 
but  was  still  too  weak  to  do  so. 

Meantime,  father  was  coming  towards  us,  and  he  thus  beheld 
the  ruffian's  act.  My  breath  went  quick  and  gasping,  and  my 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  A  SOUL.  35 

eyes  grew  strained  in  terror,  for  my  father  stroaa  towards  the 
group,  his  chest  heaving,  and  such  a  look  on  his  face  I  had 
never  before  seen  there.  'Twas  white  and  drawn,  his  nostrils 
wide  distended,  his  lips  set  tight  together ;  and  from  his  eyes 
there  darted  fury. 

He  stepped  among  this  vile  assemblage,  and  without  a  word 
turned  on  one  therein.  His  fist  shot  out,  and,  ox-like,  the  rogue 
was  felled.  It  was  the  only  time  I  ever  saw  my  father  strike  a 
man  in  anger.  I  had  not  recked  that  he,  the  mildest  of  men, 
could  be  thus  transformed.  At  his  angry  act,  a  dozen  weapons 
were  uplifted.  Howbeit,  strangely  enough,  the  officer  spared 
him. 

"  Hold,  ye  bull-headed  lack-brains  !  "  he  cried,  raising  his 
hand  to  quell  his  officious  followers.  "  I  will  have  no  blood- 
shed. Daminy !  'twas  a  shrewd  knock,  indeed.  'Twere  better 
on  thy  head,  Jeremy,  than  on  mine  own.  A  curse  on  theeforan 
ill-starred  wight.  As  for  you,  old  gray  hairs,  this  springald 
hath  bided  under  your  roof-tree,  therefore  you  have  wittingly 
harbored  a  rebel ;  thereby  compassing  a  treason  'gainst  the 
State.  Dost  follow  my  reasoning  ?  Ton  my  life,  'tis  worthy 
of  Westminster  Hall.  Proven,  say  I,  so  come  ye  along  to 
Taunton.  I'm  thinking  my  Lord  Jeffreys,  the  hangman,  and 
the  gallows — God  bless  'em  .'—will  soon  be  pretty  busy." 

Thereupon  the  diabolic  villain  set  up  a  brutish  howl  of  laughter. 
In  mock  respect,  he  flicked  his  queue  in  father's  face,  and 
made  a  leg  at  the  wife  who  stood  by  weeping.  No  other  word 
was  spoken,  but  in  sight  of  poor  mother  and  her  two  remain- 
ing children,  we  were  dragged  away  to  Taunton  jail. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  DEATH  OF  A  SOUL. 

WE  lay  three  weeks  under  lock  and  key.  I  mended  rapidly 
in  body,  yet  as  the  days  passed,  my  distress  of  mind  grew 
terrible.  My  father  heartened  me  as  best  he  could,  for  he  and 
I  along  with  four  others  shared  the  same  cell.  Over  a  thou- 
sand prisoners  were  confined  in  Taunton  by  the  first  week  in 
September.  Awful  rumors  came  to  us  day  by  day.  My  lord 
Chief  Justice  Jeffreys  was  leaving  a  trail  of  blood  in  the  West  ; 
at  every  rebel  assize  he  held  there  was  the  same  slaughter  of 
the  guilty  with  the  innocent,  the  same  horrible  tale  of  butchery. 


36  Af /STRESS  DOROTHY  MA K  VI N. 

I  began  to  have  fears  for  my  father's  neck,  as  we  learned  that 
many,  including  the  noble  Lady  Alice  Lisle,  had  been  executed 
for  the  offence  of  succoring  rebels.  I  informed  him  of  these 
fears,  yet  he  was  not  distressed. 

"  If  it  be  God's  will,"  he  said,  "  I  am  ready,"  and  he  pulled 
a  little  Bible  out  of  his  vest  and  kissed  it. 

He  prayed  with  me  in  a  corner  many  a  night,  and  many  a 
day  did  the  same  with  our  four  rustic  companions.  The  gaunt 
vision  of  death  seemed  to  hover  about  us;  and  I  say  to  my 
shame  that  the  word  of  God  appeared  to  me  but  cold  comfort 
and  a  meagre  consolation.  What  hopes  could  I  have  for  the 
next  world,  when  I  had  wrecked  the  peace  of  my  own  family, 
and  had  plunged  it  in  the  depths  of  grief  and  desolation  ? 

On  the  second  day  of  the  assizes  we  were  led  forth  to  the 
courthouse.  Ten  of  us  were  placed  in  the  dock  together,  on  trial 
for  our  lives.  I  cannot  speak  in  cold  blood  of  that  chamber  of 
solicitude,  or  of  the  unnatural  monster  we  found  therein;  that 
godless  arbiter  of  life  and  death,  whose  deeds  and  name  to  this 
hour  stink  in  the  nostrils  of  the  nation. 

The  judges  sate  at  the  far  end  of  the  Court,  and  towering 
highest  of  the  three  was  Jeffreys,  resplendent  in  a  flowing  robe 
of  scarlet,  and  a  long  white  powdered  periwig. 

Kinsmen,  ye  have  heard  of  the  "  Bloody  Assizes  "  of  1685. 
Maybe  you  know  every  word  of  those  awful  traditions;  how  all 
the  West  was  alive  with  gibbets,  and  how  it  was  besoddened 
with  the  life-blood  of  her  sons  during  those  terrible  weeks  of 
the  early  autumn  of  '85.  'Tis  but  an  old  man's  fearsome  story 
now,  raked  out  of  the  dying  embers  of  the  past ;  but  hearken, 
children  !  ye  may  go  down  on  your  knees,  and  thank  your  God 
that  'tis  but  a  time-worn  tale. 

To  the  right  of  the  judges  the  members  of  the  grand  jury 
were  arrayed,  devoid  of  pity.  They  were  there  to  hang  the 
King's  enemies.  Close  by  were  the  Crown  lawyers — fawning 
sycophants  ! — whilst  behind  them  a  body  of  his  Majesty's  troops 
had  clustered.  These  were  bloodthirsty  wretches  for  the  most 
part,  who  had  come  thither  to  be  amused.  Loudly  did  they 
guffaw  at  the  sorry  wit  of  Jeffreys.  Below  us  was  a  little  knot 
of  friends — a  sad-faced,'  anxious,  trembling,  weeping,  congrega- 
tion. Fathers,  sons,  husbands,  brothers,  must  die  that  day. 

The  eyes  of  all  rested  on  my  lord  Jeffreys.  The  other  jus- 
tices who  sat  one  on  either  side  of  him  were  mere  puppets,  to 
nod  at  his  every  wink  and  to  laugh  at  his  every  jest. 

My  old  heart  swells  as  I  remember  how  we  half-score,  with 
firm  lips  and  steady  eyes,  looked  death  in  the  face,  and  scorned 


THE  DEA  TH  OF  A  SOUL.  37 

the  glance  of  the  Lord  Chief  Justice.  My  father  and  I  did  not 
think  ourselves  belittled,  as  our  high  birth  and  family  might 
have  led  us  to  do,  at  standing  thus  on  a  level  with  simple  hus- 
bandmen. Truer  hearts  ne'er  beat  under  woollen  jerkins  than 
did  those  of  our  eight  companions. 

We  fixt  our  eyes  on  the  vindictive  monster  before  us,  the 
most  inhuman  judge  that  ever  disgraced  an  English  bench.  My 
God,  he  was  a  baleful  object !  Would  that  I  might  blot  his 
vision  for  ever  from  my  memory.  But  can  I  forget  his  malig- 
nant eyes,  or  his  massive,  brutal  jowl  ?  Can  I  forget  his  bestial 
countenance,  his  cursings,  his  ravings,  his  bellowings,  or  his 
sickening  thirst  for  human  blood  ?  Can  I  forget  his  face — a 
flaming  sea  of  red  atop  of  a  maleficent  underjaw,  unbroken  in 
monotony  save  by  close-drawn  patches  of  black  eyebrow,  and 
by  countless  furrows  that  criss-crossed  it  with  deep  and  livid 
lines  ?  That  awful  countenance  was  never  in  repose.  'Twas 
ever  alive  with  a  smouldering  and  sometimes  wholly  kindled 
violence.  Affixed  above  this  twitching,  quivering,  hellish  mass, 
was  a  huge  white  periwig,  flaunting  to  and  fro  with  the  white 
powder  flying  out  of  it,  whilst  now  and  then  two  savage  fists 
danced  round  it,  and  beat  the  cushions-of  his  desk  in  devilish 
tattoos. 

It  is  this  unholy  phantom  of  the  past  that  I  have  had  before 
me  of  a  night  time,  and  that  hath  scared  me  in  the  face  of  the 
morning  sun. 

For  a  minute  or  two  ere  the  proceedings  began  the  Lord 
Chief  Justice  snuffed,  and  cracked  jokes  with  his  brethren  on 
the  scarlet  dais,  then  shot  a  glance  at  us  prisoners,  and,  as  he 
did  so,  the  laughter  left  his  face.  A  hush  fell  on  the  assembly, 
and  the  trial  opened,  or  at  least  the  outward  form  of  it,  for  all 
the  world  doth  know  the  thing  itself  was  but  a  mockery. 

"  Colonel  Kirke,"  cried  my  lord  in  a  great  voice,  "  I  pray  you 
let  the  guard  be  strong.  Let  all  due  precaution  be  taken,  lest 
harm  befall  our  person.  Did  ever  mortal  set  eyes  on  such  a 
mass  of  infamy !  Mark  their  faces  !  See  the  Evil  One  stamped 
upon  them  !  Avert  your  eyes,  ye  rogues.  You,  sirrah,  with 
your  brazen  face,  have  ye  not  the  decency  to  be  abashed  in  the 
presence  of  justice  ?  And  you,  with  your  red  head  in  the 
corner.  'Tis  not  more  fiery,  I  trow,  than  the  place  ye're  bound 
for." 

That  was  his  opening  address.  The  monster  had  begun  his 
ravings  ;  his  bellowing  filled  the  court.  The  soldiery  grinned 
at  his  frenzy,  and  laughed  outright  at  his  wretched  japes  and 
pleasantries. 


38  MISTRESS  DORO  THY  MAR VIN. 

Grim  and  silent  were  the  jury,  and  immovable,  save  for  nod- 
ding acquiescence  at  all  he  thought  fit  to  say.  The  witnesses 
stood  up  to  give  their  evidence,  only  to  be  brow-beaten  and 
insulted. 

"  What  sayest  thou  ?  "  he  snorted ;  "  thou  canst  give  good 
reference  as  to  character  ?  Character,  indeed  !  Thou  liest  most 
foully.  A  cut-throat  villain  who  compasses  a  treason,  and  takes 
up  arms  against  the  King's  Majesty  with  a  character  !  Sink  me, 
the  conceit  is  sublime  !  We  shall  hear  of  an  actress  with  one 
next.  Stand  down,  you  perjuring  rascal !  How  dare  you  foist 
such  a  lie  upon  the  court?  By  my  soul,  I'd  commit  you,  were  I 
not  the  most  lenient  judge  alive.  Stand  down,  I  say ;  make 
way  for  the  little  wench  in  the  blue  frock." 

A  meek-eyed  young  woman,  with  chalky  cheeks  and  flutter- 
ing bosom,  stood  forth.  The  wretch  fixed  her  with  his  awful 
look.  The  frightened  creature  opened  her  lips  to  speak,  yet 
scarce  a  word  would  come.  She  stammered  a  few  confusedly, 
but  these  were  not  understood.  She  was  fascinated  and 
paralyzed  by  the  being  before  her.  'Twas  a  case  of  the  serpent 
and  the  helpless  bird. 

"  Rend  my  soul !  "  roared  the  demon,  "  'tis  well,  my  jade, 
that  your  mouth  will  not  utter  what  your  tongue  would  have  it. 
'Tis  well  you  conscience,  hath  warmed  you  of  your  crime. 
Pink  me,  another  sublime  conceit !  A  ranting  Presbytery  hussy 
with  a  conscience  !  Ho,  ho,  ho  !  'Tis  worthy  of  John  Dryden. 
Be  discreet,  my  girl ;  ye  shall  smart  for  a  falsehood." 

He  leaned  over  in  his  justice  seat,  and  shook  his  fat  forefinger 
at  her.  As  he  did  so,  I  caught  the  glint  of  his  eyes  :  there 
was  the  devil  in  them.  At  that  sight  the  fear-struck  girl  dropt 
senseless. 

Close  by  I  felt  a  violent  quivering.  I  withdrew  my  gaze 
from  Jeffreys  and  descried  a  sturdy  lad  beside  my  elbow.  I 
remarked  his  bloodless  brown  cheek,  the  trembling  of  his  frame, 
the  clutching  of  his  hands,  the  tight  set  of  his  teeth,  and  the 
evil  in  his  eye.  The  girl  was  his  sweetheart,  who  had  come  to 
plead  for  him. 

"  So  her  stomach  be  too  nice  for  a  court  of  justice,"  quoth 
Jeffreys,  as  they  carried  her  out  through  the  door.  "Blister 
me !  justice  shames  one  among  these  treasonous  dogs,  and  the 
gallows  shall  shame  the  rest  •,  for  I'll  warrant  their  necks  will 
soon  be  longer  than  ever  nature  made  'em.  Any  more 
witnesses?  This  shall  be  a  fair  trial.  None  may  say  that  His 
Gracious  Majesty,  in  the  bountifulness  of  his  mercy,  hath  not 
allowed  a  just  and  proper  hearing,  and  a  most  humane  and 


THE  DEATH  OF  A  SOUL.  39 

righteous  judge  to  conduct  it.  Any  more  witnesses,  I  ask?" 
and  he  glared  round  with  a  wolfish  smile. 

"  Ah  !  you  little  fellow  of  the  tub  belly  ?  " 

A  small  man  with  a  red  face  and  a  squat  figure  came  for- 
ward and  took  his  stand.  He,  at  least,  was  not  sufficiently 
abashed. 

"  Mark  you,  my  little  turkey  cock,"  growled  my  lord,  who 
was  but  ill-pleased  that  any  more  witnesses  should  come  be- 
twixt him  and  his  dinner,  "ye  had  best  be  very,  very  careful!" 

Scarce  had  the  fellow  begun  to  speak,  when  the  judge  roared 
out — 

"  Stop,  sirrah  !  A  lie — I  sniff  it !  Waste  not  the  time  of  the 
court  with  a  pack  of  wicked  falsehoods.  Get  you  hence  !  " 

"  My  lord "  interposed  the  man. 

" Begone,  I  say  !  "  cried  the  judge,  shouting  him  down. 

Here  the  witness  showed  his  mettle. 

"  'Tis  no  lie,  my  lord.     'Tis  honest  truth." 

"  Oh,  oh  !  Master  Jackanapes,  the  honest  truth,  is  it  ?  You 
dare,  sir,  you  dare  to  give  the  lie  to  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
of  England  !  By  the  Lord,  you  most  peccant  villain,  I  will 
commit  you." 

The  devil  had  gotten  into  the  man  once  more  ;  he  shone  in 
his  countenance  more  clearly  than  ever  I  wish  to  see  him  shine 
in  human  face  hereafter. 

"Any  more?"  the  judge  demanded,  as  they  led  the  late 
witness  away.  "This  most  awful  trial,"  he  continued,  "must 
be  conducted  with  all  due  form  and  ceremony.  Not  one  of  ye 
that  shall  not  have  a  hearing  worthy  of  a  peer  of  the  realm." 

Hereabouts  his  manner  changed  altogether.  The  fellow 
could  weep  as  easily  as  he  could  laugh,  and  sob  as  easily  as  he 
could  storm.  Therefore  the  arch-hypocrite  forgot  his  ravings 
for  the  moment ;  his  voice  was  caught  up  in  many  sobs,  and 
tears  hopped  down  his  cheeks  as  he  exclaimed — 

"  Oh,  most  unrighteous  children — most  erring,  wayward 
children  to  lacerate  the  heart  of  the  King,  your  father !  It  is, 
indeed,  a  mercy  the  Lord  above  doth  not  send  down  His  aveng- 
ing angel  and  smite  you  where  you  stand." 

The  blasphemer  cast  his  hands  and  eyes  upwards  to  the  roof, 
as  though  to  invoke  the  forgiveness  of  Heaven  on  our  account. 
Seeing  that  none  dare  face  the  wretch,  one  of  the  lawyers  for 
the  Crown  got  up  and  informed  the  court  that  seven  of  the 
prisoners  pleaded  guilty,  and  three  not  guilty. 

The  seven  who  avowed  their  crime  were  placed  apart  from 
the  remainder.  I  declared  my  fault,  yet  my  father  very  rightly 


40  AflSTKESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

protested  innocence;  for  surely  'twas  a  monstrous  thing  to  pro- 
nounce a  man  guilty  of  high  treason,  on  the  strength  of  a 
simple  act  of  humanity  towards  his  own  flesh  and  blood. 
Jeffreys  dealt  with  the  guilty  first,  tho',  for  that  matter,  he  drew 
no  distinction  betwixt  them  and  the  innocent. 

"  So,  ye  monsters  !  "  he  cried,  vengefully  gloating  over  us, 
"  you  avow  your  guilt  ?  Have  ye  no  sense  of  your  wickedness  ' 
Have  ye  no  thought  for  the  rottenness  of  your  hearts  ?" 

Having  said  this  with  grotesque  solemnity,  he  took  the  hypo- 
crite's cloak  unto  himself,  and  once  more  fella-weeping.  Soon 
he  mopped  the  tears  from  his  bleared  eyes  by  the  aid  of  a  large 
red  kerchief ;  also  the  sorrow  at  the  time,  for  like  a  fiend  he 
turned  on  the  other  three,  his  face  convulsed  with  anger.  I 
trembled  for  my  father ;  he  cared  naught  for  a  man  so  base. 
I  knew  a  fierce  conflict  was  approaching,  for,  at  my  lord's  first 
words,  I  saw  my  parent  draw  up  his  body  rigid,  and  fix  his 
stern,  tight-set  visage  on  the  judge  in  a  look  of  bold  disgust. 
He  was  once  more  true  to  his  tenets;  he  ever  set  right  before 
might,  and  was  a-feared  of  no  living  being.  Furiously  the 
justice  turned  upon  him  and  his  two  companions. 

"  \Yhat !  not  guilty  !  not  guilty,  ye  abject  hounds  !  How 
dare  you  stand  before  me,  and  throw  the  lie  in  my  teeth. 
\Yould  that  the  earth  might  open  and  swallow  ye  !  I,  your 
judge 

'•You  a  judge?  A  devil,  more  likely,"  broke  in  my  father  in 
a  hard,  quiet,  contained  voice,  that  pronounced  every  word  dis- 
tinct  above  the  other's  uproar. 

Soldiers,  lawyers,  townsfolk,  prisoners :  all  were  startled  at 
this  daring,  and  strained  their  eyes  upon  the  twain.  My  knees 
knocked  one  against  the  other,  for  the  judge  looked  truly 
awful  at  being  thus  bearded.  I  saw  him  beat  the  dust  once 
more  from  his  purple  cushion,  I  saw  him  writhe  and  wriggle  in 
his  justice  seat,  I  saw  his  eyes  jump  nearly  from  his  head,  and 
watched  the  foam  assemble  on  his  lips.  I  covered  my  face  in 
terror,  yet,  though  I  might  blot  out  the  sight,  the  words  tingled 
in  mine  ears. 

"  What  sayest  thou,  accursed  one  ? "  howled  the  wicked 
creature  in  a  transport.  "Didst  say  a  devil?  A  curse  upon 
your  soul,  you  villain  !  you  ruffian  !  you  Presbyterian  black- 
guard !  Curse  you  and  your  conventicles!  A  devil,  quotha? 
Ho,  ho  !  you  rascally  Ranter,  we  shall  see  you  at  the  end  of 
a  piece  of  comely  hemp  ere  long,  dancing  on  space,  to  the 
tune  of  your  own  cheerful  piping.  Who,  then,  will  be  the 
devil,  eh  ? '' 


THE  DEATH  OF  A  SOUL.  41 

In  his  satanic  fury,  he  leant  out  of  his  seat  so  far  that  he 
came  nigh  toppling  head  foremost  from  it  into  the  well  of  the 
court  below.  His  ravings  and  maledictions  filled  the  place  most 
fearfully.  Naught  interrupted  them,  for  the  soldiers  hushed 
their  ribaldry,  whilst  the  remainder  of  the  audience  were  com- 
pletely cowed  and  horrified. 

My  father  paid  no  heed  to  the  justice's  ermine  gown  and 
flaunting  periwig  ;  he  ne'er  removed  his  cool,  taunting  gaze  from 
that  face,  but  kept  his  eyes,  as  heretofore,  bent  steadily  upon 
it.  Even  in  the  midst  of  the  paroxysm  I  saw  disdain  upon 
the  prisoner's  countenance,  and  this  calm  disgust  was  fuel  to 
the  judge's  madness. 

Now  it  so  chanced  that  we  criminals  were  unfettered,  be- 
cause so  great  was  the  number  of  rebels  within  the  town,  that 
rope  and  iron  had  run  short,  and  neither  commands  nor  money 
could  procure  them.  Two  soldiers,  however,  with  shouldered 
pikes,  stood  at  both  ends  of  the  row  of  us  ;  and  each  of  the 
lubberly  wights  had  mouths  agape,  with  never  a  thought  for 
their  charges.  'Twas  as  iron  being  driven  into  my  soul  to  hear 
my  father  thus  reviled;  he  so  grand  and  lofty,  too,  and  I  the 
cause  of  his  humiliation.  I  set  my  teeth  with  vice-like  grip, 
and  clenched  my  hands  till  the  nails  sank  in  the  palms.  My 
brain  was  a  fiery  furnace  ;  the  blood  swept  through  my  body 
in  a  scalding  stream  that  boiled  in  every  vein  and  artery. 
A  whirling  dizziness  gripped  me  ;  yet  despite  it  the  vision 
of  the  being  I  most  adored  in  all  the  world  menaced  me 
as  he  stood  there  in  the  felon's  box.  Oh,  'twas  cruel,  cruel ! 

Next  my  reason  must  have  fled,  as,  for  a  time,  I  became  a 
tearing  madman.  Verily  the  devil  seized  me,  too,  for  of  a 
sudden,  with  a  crazy  howl,  I  vaulted  the  high  rail  in  front,  and 
clattered  down  amidst  the  papers  and  the  lawyers.  I  snatched 
up  an  inkhorn  and  hurled  it  full  at  the  wretch  in  the  scarlet. 
Then,  like  a  flash,  I  turned  about,  and  by  a  wild  tigerish  bound, 
made  a  dash  for  the  door.  He  who  guarded  it  had  not  col- 
lected his  wits  sufficiently  to  raise  his  weapon,  ere  I  descended 
bodily  upon  him,  my  two  knees  to  his  stomach. 

We  were  borne  thudding  to  the  floor,  myself  atop,  and  in  an 
instant  I  was  up,  the  breathless  fellow's  pike  within  my  grasp. 
So  marvellously  rapid  had  been  the  act,  that  those  who  wit- 
nessed it  were  entirely  petrified  for  the  moment  with  stupefac- 
tion. Thus,  not  a  hand  was  raised  to  arrest  me  till  I  had 
dashed  through  the  door  into  the  passage.  Here,  however,  I 
was  beset  by  numberless  impediments  ;  but  I  fought  and 
struggled  like  ten  men,  with  an  unreasoning,  madman's  strength. 


42  MfSTXESS  DO  ROTH  Y  MA  K  VI N. 

How  I  rushed  through  that  crowded  corridor  I  never  could 
tell.  Men  surged  about  me  on  every  side,  and  did  their  best 
to  stay  my  progress,  yet  the  wondrous  vigor  that  held  my  limbs 
enabled  me  to  shower  blows  thick  as  hail,  and,  in  the  end,  to 
shake  off  all  opponents. 

It  was  but  a  narrow  place,  and  the  aim  of  the  assailants  oft 
went  awry.  Once  I  was  conscious  of  a  resounding  knock,  and 
next  minute  my  head  was  singing,  and  a  warm  stream  dripped 
down  my  shirt.  Howbeit,  I  dealt  many  broken  pates  in  ex- 
change for  mine  own  misfortune.  Thence  followed  a  vicious 
crack  from  behind,  which  glanced  from  my  ill-fated  scalp,  and 
soon  gave  me  knowledge  of  a  fierce  pain  in  the  shoulder.  Yet, 
when  a  man  hath  desperation  within  him,  he  heeds  such  mis- 
adventures as  trivial  casualties. 

I  struggled  to  the  broad  patch  of  light  that  betokened  the 
outlet  from  the  loathsome  place,  and  as  I  rushed  into  the  outer 
air,  blood  soaked  my  garments.  No  sooner  did  I  feel  the  pure 
atmosphere  upon  my  brow,  than  a  desire  to  leave  the  courthouse 
far  behind  came  into  my  crazy  brain,  and  this  at  once  gave  birth 
to  instant  action.  Hitherto  I  had  fought  and  struggled  only  to 
give  vent  to  my  overmastering  passion  ;  and  with  no  better 
reason.  But  as  I  sucked  in  the  fresh  air  and  saw  the  sun  so 
bright,  and  heard  the  twittering  of  the  birds,  I  felt  a  wild  long- 
ing to  live ;  and  the  hopes,  the  joys,  the  sweets  of  life  came 
back.  'Twas  a  keen  emotion  that  cut  me  in  every  fibre,  one 
that  set  my  heart  a-leaping ;  whereby  'twill  be  seen  methought 
the  world  too  good  to  be  quit  of  so  early.  This  sharp  sensa- 
tion revived  my  strength,  stimulated  my  power  of  thought, 
tempered  my  insanity,  and  succored  failing  limbs  and  jaded 
lungs.  Thus  in  despite  of  my  predicament  I  set  off  at  top 
speed  down  the  street. 

I  made  a  strenuous  bid  for  life  ;  fleeing  hatless,  bleeding, 
palpitating  ;  clothes  half  off  my  back,  shirt  and  doublet  tat- 
tered, and  the  soldier's  pike  brandished  for  the  behoof  of  any 
meddler.  Not  many  yards  had  my  quick  feet  covered  when 
crack  !  crack  !  went  the  muskets  behind,  and  the  bullets  came 
pinging  by.  One  whizzed  past  my  cheek,  others  whistled 
round  my  ears  and  head,  but  -never  touched  them.  Nigh  a 
dozen  sought  the  roadway  just  in  front,  beating  sparks  from 
the  cobble  stones  ;  and  not  one  was  billeted  at  its  rightful  des- 
tination. Cunningly  I  turned  into  the  footpath  among  the 
much-scared  citizens,  whereat  rightly  smart  were  they  to 
scurry  in  all  directions  to  escape  the  next  discharge.  'Twas 
here  my  wits  had  stood  me  in  good  stead,  for  I  knew  full  well 


THE  DEATH  OF  A  SOUL.  43 

the  soldiery  dare  not  fire  again  lest  they  did  others  an  injury. 
Still,  they  gave  full  power  to  their  tongues,  while  their  feet  pat- 
tered heavily  in  my  wake.  I  was  not  molested,  except  that  one 
valiant,  half-tipsy  servant  of  the  King  set  himself  determinedly 
in  my  path.  Without  a  second's  hesitation,  I  tightened  the 
hold  on  my  weapon  and  dealt  him  a  wicked  stroke,  which 
knocked  him  spinning  and  reeling  to  the  ground.  After  this  I 
clenched  my  teeth  in  defiance  of  failing  breath  and  faltering 
limbs,  and  away  I  went,  unheedful  of  my  heaving  chest,  for  the 
sweat  and  blood  I  spent  at  every  step ;  or  without  a  glance  be- 
hind. 

Gradually  the  shouts  grew  feebler,  the  hedges  and  wheat 
fields  hove  in  sight,  and  the  pursuit  became  more  and  more 
remote.  Soon  the  town  was  miles  afar,  and  the  hunters  had 
tailed  away  from  eye-range.  The  danger  past,  I  became  un- 
done altogether  ;  being  barely  able  to  totter  over  a  stile  ere 
my  high-strung  senses  slackened  ;  upon  which  I  dropped  my  bat- 
tered body  in  a  field  beside  the  road.  I  lay  weary  and  weak 
for  hours;  being  nearly  dead  owing  to  loss  of  blood,  over-strain 
of  energy,  and  tissue-consuming  madness. 

Very  beautiful  was  this  morning  in'  September,  with  the 
second  growth  of  grasses  soft  as  velvet,  and  the  noontide  sun 
gold  in  an  azure  sky.  Through  the  dust-speckled  hedgerows 
peeped  the  gentle  wheat,  softly  bowing  to  every  breath  of  the 
autumn  day. 

Alas,  it  was  all  uncut !  no  reaper's  hand  had  touched  it. 
The  bones  of  those  reapers  lay  bleaching  on  the  West  country- 
side ;  their  blood  had  bedewed  the  Sedgemoor  marshes  with  its 
crimson  flood ;  and  more  there  was  to  flow.  The  grim  reaper, 
Death,  was  in  the  West ;  but  the  birds  gave  voice  to  their  dul- 
cet melody.  Their  bright-hued  throats  dotted  every  branch 
and  thicket,  their  music  swelled  through  the  meadows  and  re- 
echoed in  the  woodlands.  \Vhat  did  they  care  for  the  tragedy? 


At  eventide  the  sun  softly  kissed  the  western  horizon. 
Stealthily  it  dipped  below  the  hills,  over  where  the  Mendips 
rose  up  gaunt  against  the  sky-line.  It  garbed  all  around  a 
radiant,  glorious  purple,  till  it  was  known  to  the  earth  no 
longer.  Thick  on  the  grass  the  dew  fell.  In  a  clinging  mist  it 
wrapped  the  silent  landscape  like  some  far-stretching  spectre, 
that  hath  no  movement,  and  clothed  with  an  eerie  garment  the 
black  blurred  forms  of  the  silent  Quantocks.  In  the  gathering 
darkness  of  the  night  there  came  no  sound  save  the  lowing  of 


44  MISTRESS  DORO  TH Y  MA R  VI N. 

the  cattle,  the  mournful  wailing  of  the  willow  wren,  or  the  noise 
of  the  dull-toned  bittern. 

A  heartsore  wanderer,  without  shelter  for  his  stricken  body, 
trampled  the  heather  underfoot.  Ye  may  have  pity,  my  chil- 
dren, for  he  was  your  sire — the  man  who  tells  you  this — the  chief 
of  the  House  of  Armstrong.  At  that  hour,  he  was  a  fugitive 
from  justice,  with  the  fiend  despair  in  his  soul ;  a  broken  creat- 
ure, from  whom,  a  cruel,  shameful  death  had  robbed  one  much 
beloved.  An  hour  before  sunset  that  same  afternoon  my  father 
had  been  led  forth  to  execution,  along  with  his  eight  compan- 
ions of  the  courthouse.  He  had  been  hanged  like  a  common 
felon.  Even  now  his  limbs  were  dangling  from  a  gibbet,  his 
gray  hairs  bare  to  the  night  wind,  his  flesh  the  food  of  carrion. 
I,  his  first  born,  had  set  his  body  in  that  awful  thing ,  my  head- 
strong folly  had  blighted  the  home  of  my  boyhood  ;  it  had 
carried  death  and  desolation  across  its  sacred  threshold.  The 
sickening  misery  of  such  thoughts  !  Why  had  I  not  died  beside 
him ;  or  on  Sedgemoor  plain  ?  I  felt  as  though  I  had  lived  my 
life,  as  though  God  had  put  forth  His  Hand  ;  and  as  though 
that  Hand  had  crushed  me.  There  seemed  no  hope ;  no  future. 
We  have  none  among  us  who  can  portray  that  anguish  of  youth, 
that  hath  only  the  past  to  look  to,  when  to-morrow  is  a  thing  of 
fear  ;  when  the  harvest  is  in  the  spring-time. 

Passionately  despairing,  I  flung  myself  face  foremost  on  the 
wet  grass.  The  cold  blades  licked  my  fevered  cheek,  and  ca- 
ressed my  burning  forehead.  How  long  I  lay  on  that  dewy 
undergrowth  I  do  not  know,  but  when  I  rose  the  light  was  gone, 
and  the  stars  were  in  the  firmament.  Haunting  wretchedness 
upon  me,  I  turned  my  back  to  the  hills ;  home  was  there  no 
longer.  With  slow  limbs  I  crawled  to  a  place  of  terror,  where 
four  roads  meet.  A  huge  shadow  loomed  ahead,  then  the  night 
wind  crept  across  the  fields,  and  stirred  the  iron  thing  before 
me.  A  dirge-like  creaking  came  therefrom,  when  it  swayed  to 
and  fro  in  the  ghostly  breeze,  and  as  I  stayed  beside  it,  a  bird 
came  through  its  bars,  and,  with  a  ghoulish  scream  and  a  flap 
of  its  vampire's  wings,  flew  into  the  gloom  and  blackness. 

Close  under  the  shadow  of  the  hellish  cage  I  crept.  Down  I 
sank  on  my  knees  and  clasped  my  hands  in  agony.  No  sound 
struck  the  stillness  save  the  creaking  of  the  gibbet.  There  had 
been  a  time  when  those  dangling  knees  over  my  head  had  sup- 
ported me ;  the  tongue  within  that  rigid  cheek  had  expounded 
chapter  and  verse  of  the  Holy  Writ,  and  those  lifeless  hands 
had  encircled  mine  of  a  Sabbath  morn ;  as  to  God's  House  we 
had  wended  our  way  together. 

I 


C HIL  VERLE  Y  FA  KM.  45 

I  thought  of  this  even  then,  yet  I  cursed  my  God,  and  re- 
nounced Him.  And  then,  the  devil  took  courage  and  raised 
his  head  in  my  heart,  for  as  I  knelt  there,  I  swore  to  hunt  down 
and  pursue  to  the  death  my  father's  murderers.  My  soul 
yearned  for  vengeance,  my  tongue  cried  for  it,  and  there, 
under  that  loathly  cage,  I  made  the  vow. 


CHAPTER  III. 

CHILVERLEY      FARM. 

EMPTY  bellies  make  full  jails.  I  beseech  you,  kinsmen,  re- 
member that.  Hunger  drove  me  to  my  first  crime.  I  fought 
temptation  for  a  time,  yet  in  the  end  was  beaten  by  the  gnaw- 
ing of  my  stomach,  so  that  one  accursed  day  I  became  thief  as 
well  as  outlaw,  by  stopping  a  Tory  squire  on  a  lonely  track  and 
robbing  him. 

From  that  time  forward  I  flung  virtue  to  the  winds,  and  fell  a 
victim  to  the  devil.  Day  after  day,  week-after  week,  I  stripped 
honest  men  of  their  worldly  goods,  till  my  name  became  a  ter- 
ror to  the  country  side,  and  aroused  the  admiration  of  the 
vulgar.  Very  shortly  I  procured  money  enough  to  buy  a  horse, 
and  as  my  reputation  hourly  grew,  I  began  to  take  a  pride  in 
it,  and  to  perform  ambitious  deeds  of  daring.  Despair  made 
me  reckless  of  life  and  limb.  I  had  no  care  for  existence, 
knowing  well,  as  matters  went,  it  was  simply  a  work  of  time  ere 
I  paid  the  penalty  for  my  crimes. 

My  heart-wound  never  healed.  Black  thoughts  of  revenge 
against  my  father's  murderers  were  ever  uppermost  in  my  mind, 
and  these  only  spurred  me  on  to  further  depredations.  I  have 
since  come  to  think  that  Satan  only  was  responsible  for  my 
existence  hereabouts,  for  I  certainly  had  no  heed  of  God.  The 
tragedy  of  that  September  day  had  been  sufficient  to  set  me 
against  all  the  teaching  and  precept  of  my  youth,  and  to  fill  my 
soul  with  gall.  I  had  no  hope,  no  future.  I  felt  nothing  but  a 
dull  sort  of  hatred  against  mankind  ;  yet  in  my  old  age  I  praise 
Heaven  that  even  in  my  darkest  moments  I  ne'er  did  aught 
more  heinous  than  to  steal  my  neighbors'  goods.  I  always 
spared  human  life,  always  left  the  poor  alone,  and  also  the 
\Vhigs,  if  possible.  'Twas  the  staunch  Tories  who  swore  by 
the  King  and  Jeffreys,  and  had  helped  to  hang  my  father,  who 
were  the  chief  recipients  of  my  vengeance. 

4 


46  MJS  TRESS  DOKO  THY  MA  R I  'IX. 

Many  things  were  in  my  favor.  First  was  my  utter  reckless- 
ness, that  ne'er  valued  life  at  all.  Furthermore,  my  body  was 
»lithe  and  agile,  my  eye  keen,  whilst  necessity  sharpened  my 
wits  to  a  wonderful  extent.  Also  I  became  redoubtable  with 
sword  and  pistol  by  constant  practice  and  great  celerity  of 
movement.  Besides  this,  I  had  several  qualities  that  told 
vastly  to  my  advantage  in  the  common  mind,  and  ensured  me 
popularity.  I  had  a  natural  grace  of  manner  and  person,  a 
pert  tongue,  and  could  be  generous  on  occasion.  Therefore, 
within  a  twelvemonth,  I  was  beloved  and  feared  in  equal  pro- 
portion by  the  common  folk  ;  and  so  high  ran  my  fame  between 
Exeter  and  Wiltshire,  that  it  endures  to  this  day.  None  guessed 
my  real  identity,  and  I  was  known  over  the  country-side  by  the 
name  "  Black  Ned."  The  prefix  "  Black  "  first  arose  through 
the  uncommon  swarthiness  of  my  skin,  which  partook  more  of 
the  Italian  manner  than  the  English.  My  greatest  feat  was 
the  robbing  of  the  Earl  of  Feversham,  the  King's  Commander  ; 
and  so  greatly  did  it  run  in  men's  minds  at  the  time,  that 
ballads  were  writ  concerning  it,  and  these  were  sung  in  every 
tavern  in  our  shire.  As  for  the  countless  times  I  outwitted  the 
sheriff  and  his  posse,  the  feat  became  a  veritable  byword  in 
the  West. 

Kinsmen,  again  I  have  asserted  the  gruesome  truth  that  I, 
your  sire,  the  head  of  your  house,  was  Black  Ned,  the  rogue, 
the  thief.  My  proud  children,  forget  it  not,  and  flout  honest 
men  no  longer.  When  these  words  first  shall  catch  your  eyes, 
I  have  no  doubt  ye  will  pass  your  hands  across  your  several 
brows,  and  exercise  your  several  minds  as  to  whether  you  have 
bibbed  of  late  too  freely.  And  when  you  find  the  tale  is  truly 
writ  in  irreconcilable  black  and  white,  ye  will  call  me  madman 
if  ye  dare;  yet  I  defy  you^with  Dr.  Proudfoot's  testament. 

Nigh  on  three  years  went  by  ere  I  set  foot  in  the  glen  where- 
in my  home  lay.  For  months  I  was  like  one  distraught  when'er 
some  stray  thought  chanced  to  recall  what  my  folly  had  cost. 
Time,  however,  is  a  great  physician.  A  multitude  of  wounds 
he  hath  healed  which  the  sufferer  hath  abandoned  for  incur- 
able. Throughout  many  bitter  days  I  could  not  even  think  of 
the  blighted  home  without  biting  pangs  of  torment.  Ilowbeii 
the  months  slipped  by  and  the  bitterness  grew  less,  thereupon 
a  desire  gradually  crept  within  me  to  look  again  on  my  mother 
and  the  homestead.  Then  came  thoughts  of  my  manifold  sins, 
and  once  more  my  heart  did  fail.  How  could  I  return  to  her 
a  thief,  a  traitor  from  the  cause  of  truth  and  right  ? 

Another  point  here  arose.     Having  become  accustomed  to 


CHIL  VERLE  Y  FA  RM.  47 

mine  own  misdeeds,  I  e'en  began  to  twist  facts  to  suit  my  case, 
until  I  persuaded  my  sinful  self  that,  when  all  was  said,  my 
offences  were  by  no  means  so  enormous  as  I  had  at  first  con- 
ceived them.  A  man  must  live,  I  argued,  and  what  more  fit- 
ting than  that  he  should  take  bread  from  those  who  had  more 
than  sufficient  for  themselves?  Thus  I  cozened  my  better 
nature  with  specious  logic,  and  for  a  while  my  scruples  troubled 
me  but  rarely. 

Hence  my  desire  bore  fruit  one  evening  in  the  spring.  Me- 
thought  that,  after  all,  no  great  harm  could  come  of  it ;  for 
never  a  word  need  I  tell  my  mother  of  my  occupation.  'Twas 
early  in  the  season,  when  the  shrubs  and  hedgerows  had  scarce 
begun  to  don  their  verdure.  The  shadows  were  lengthening 
fast  as  I  reached  the  path  I  had  traversed  so  often  in  happier 
days.  Even  though  a  misty  dampness  cloaked  the  hills,  this 
sad  pilgrimage  recalled  many  kindly  memories.  Objects 
sweetly  familiar  beset  my  eyes  each  time  I  glanced  around. 
Here  was  the  grassy  mound  skirting  the  path,  where  for  days 
together  in  the  harvest-time  I  had  rested  at  midday  in  the  broil- 
ing sun  to  demolish,  with  no  uncertain  appetite,  my  meal  of 
bread  and  cold  boiled  bacon.  Afterwards,  having  dipped  my 
face  in  the  brook,  I  would  lie  lazily  back,  knees  and  elbows 
anyhow,  watching  the  sunlight  glint  upon  the  hill-stream  oppo- 
site, as  it  came  trickling  down  from  the  heights,  a  glistening, 
glancing,  dancing  line  of  silver,  which  ceased  not  in  its  unend- 
ing course,  nor  hushed  its  gladsome  murmur.  There,  over  the 
meadow,  was  the  willow  copse,  and  hard  by  the  foot  of  it,  re- 
clining peacefully,  was  a  circle  of  weeds  and  water,  which 
grew  or  lessened  as  the  seasons  willed.  Here  the  cows  would 
love  to  bide,  with  knee-joints  scarce  showing  above  the  surface 
of  the  pool.  Often  at  sundown,  in  the  old  days,  had  I  hied 
me  thither  to  call  them  home  ere  the  darkness  came,  only  to 
find  them  passive.  Large,  listless  eyes  would  be  turned  on  me, 
until  they  were  coaxed  out  of  the  stagnant  water  either  by  fair, 
caressing  words,  or,  more  likely  still,  by  clods  of  earth 
thrown  at  their  haunches.  Further  afield  than  this  was  the 
paddock  close  where  the  young  colts  kicked  their  heels  at  all  the 
world,  yet  more  particularly  at  their  lawful  masters.  Another 
recollection  came  to  me  of  this  enclosure  at  the  foot  of  the 
sheer  hillside  (now  half-wreathed  in  the  gathering  gloom),  and 
that  was  of  one  of  the  skittish  animals,  out  of  a  mischievous 
spirit,  galloping  a  tilt  at  me  with  open  mouth,  whereupon  I 
was  devoutly  thankful  to  scramble  through  the  hedge  with 
naught  worse  to  chronicle  than  a  sorry  rent  in  my  second-best 


48  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

hosen.  These  trifles  are  the  landmarks  of  our  lives,  which  a 
failing  memory  will  e'en  cling  to,  though  it  hath  no  place  for 
the  events  of  yesterday. 

Those  were  the  happy  days  before  the  relentless  world  had 
begun  its  buffeting.  Yet  dost  think  they  were  accounted  such  ? 
Man  cannot  recognize  happiness  until  he  hath  lost  it.  He 
would  sigh  for  the  moon  sooner  than  be  content  with  what  he 
has  already  in  his  keeping. 

My  way  was  taken  in  the  dusk,  with  every  stream  and  boulder 
keeping  alive  my  recollection. 

Soon  the  track  took  a  bend  to  the  left,  and  Chilverley  village 
lay  serene  in  the  twilight.  A  little  bridge  of  stone,  with  low 
parapets,  spans  the  stream,  as  it  comes  swirling  down  from  high 
up  the  valley  and  runs  by  the  outskirts  of  the  hamlet. 

Thirty  yards  beyond  it,  on  the  village  side,  stands  the  black- 
smith's forge,  wherein  Tobias  Hancock  had  his  workshop  and 
abode.  1  have  already  made  some  mention  of  this  man  ;  yet  I 
would  like  to  tell  you  something  of  his  appearance  as  I  saw  it 
in  lusty  manhood. 

With  him  that  evening  the  day's  work  was  done,  and  his  mind 
was  given  up  to  meditation,  which  he  dearly  loved.  As  I  rode 
by  he  stood  filling  the  doorway,  his  sleeves  still  rolled  up  just 
above  the  elbow,  and  a  pensive,  lack-lustre  in  his  eyes. 

In  stature  he  was  the  grandest  I  ever  beheld.  Ox-felling 
thews  and  sinews  were  hidden  in  every  limb.  Two  yards  six 
inches  was  his  height,  and  not  one  of  these  inches  was  lost  in  his 
carriage,  as  calves  and  thighs  were  massy,  and  brooked  not  the 
slightest  semblance  of  a  stoop.  A  noble  expanse  of  shoulder 
he  had  too,  the  frame  of  Hercules  and  a  mighty  chest.  He  was 
a  hairy-featured  fellow,  whose  black,  tangled  beard  could  scarce 
conceal  his  firm  set  mouth  and  determined  jaw.  His  cheek- 
bones were  high,  and  a  scant  covering  of  flesh  upon  them  told 
tales  of  many  an  earnest  vigil.  Gray  eyes  had  Nature  given 
him,  and  strangely  keen  and  bright  they  were,  save  when  his 
thoughts  went  a-wandering,  which  was  often  in  his  leisure, 
though  but  seldom  in  his  labor.  Bristling  thick,  in  a  matted 
patch,  his  eyebrows  clustered,  a  plenitude  of  lines  and  furrows 
was  chiselled  on  his  forehead,  and  surmounting  it  was  a  liberal 
bunch  of  hair  harshly  shot  with  gray,  which  aided  the  entire  cast 
of  countenance  in  its  stern  uninviting  aspect. 

At  this  time  he  was  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  and  his  name 
stood  high,  not  alone  in  the  village,  but  for  some  miles  around, 
for  excellence  of  workmanship  and  for  rigid  honesty.  He  was 
something  of  a  zealot  and  a  sectary,  belonging  to  the  denomina- 


CHIL  VERLE  y  FA  RM.  49 

tion  of  Independents — not  that  I  know  aught  about  them,  except 
that  Noll  Cromwell  was  once  of  their  persuasion.  The  black- 
smith was  precise  and  blunt  of  speech  ;  and,  furthermore,  feared 
not  to  speak  his  mind  to  any  man,  and  bowed  to  none  save 
God.  Born  and  bred  of  Puritanic  stock,  he  ever  upheld  their 
deep  convictions.  Mind,  this  hath  no  reference  to  those 
impostors,  who  bring  discredit  upon  every  faith,  and  most  of  all 
upon  that  of  the  Puritan,  who,  attired  in  sombre  garb,  are  never 
without  Bible  and  Prayer-book,  and  are  able  to  fire  off  whole 
chapters  of  Holy  Writ  appropriate  to  any  happening  whatso- 
ever, yet  ever  willing  and  just  as  capable  to  cheat  their  neigh- 
bors. Neither  was  he  of  that  class  (well-meaning  doubtless) 
who  don  their  piety  of  a  Sabbath  morn  with  their  Sunday 
garments,  and  throughout  that  day  carry  their  noses  in  the  air 
with  a  smug  godliness;  yet,  alas,  for  their  Christianity!  the 
next  day  being  Monday,  they  sin  with  the  ease  of  the  devil  him- 
self, but  nevertheless  are  hurt  in  mind  if  accounted  Pharisaical. 

Tobias  had  not  the  taint  of  any  such  mongrel  Christians,  and 
if  you  beheld  the  man  you  beheld  his  faith,  since  the  two  were 
never  separate.  There  was  a  martial  tone  about  him  too,  for 
his  father  had  drawn  the  sword  at  Naseby  and  Marston  Moor. 
Indeed,  he  had  much  of  that  spirit  that  led  men  to  hold  a  Bible 
in  one  hand  and  a  sword  in  the  other,  there  being  always  some- 
thing combative  and  militant  combined  with  his  religion.  His 
pride  was  large  in  his  own  sobriety,  therefore  the  alehouse 
throve  little  by  his  custom,  though  at  eventide  a  black  jack  of 
October  had  some  charms  for  him.  Though  his  worth  was  so 
wondrous  high,  he  was  more  feared  than  loved  in  the  village. 
No  matter,  he  was  a  power  for  good,  and  most  sought  to  stand 
well  in  his  estimation.  However,  there  were  those  who  had  a 
reverence  and  an  admiration  for  the  inner  workings  of  that 
steadfast  soul,  and  I  was  among  the  number.  He  was  con- 
sidered slow  by  many;  yet  once  let  a  notion  get  into  his  head, 
then  neither  prayer  nor  cudgel  could  drive  it  out. 

Such  was  Tobias  Hancock,  the  best  blacksmith  in  the  Quan- 
tocks,  the  man  I  had  scarce  hoped  to  see  in  the  flesh  again. 
Yet  here  he  stood,  hard  by  his  own  doorpost,  and  my  eyes 
were  gladdened  by  the  sight. 

I  reined  up  my  horse  within  two  yards  of  the  doorway. 

"  Zaikes  alive!"  Tobe  exclaimed,  his  usual  stolidity  rudely 
startled.  "Be  'e  man,  or  be  'e  pixie?  Whoy,  'tis  Ned  Arm- 
strong, I  dii  declare  !  " 

"  Ay,  Tobe,  'tis  I." 

"  Thou  hast  coom  back  then  arter  many  days,  even  as  Moses 


5° 


M/STRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 


returned  vroom  oot  o'  tha  land  o'  Midian,  to  Israel  his  birth- 
place ?  My  eyemers,  lad,  I  be  raight  glad  tii  zee  'e  !  " 

He  tlirust  forth  his  hand,  and  took  mine,  and  so  honest  was 
his  grip  that  I  grinned  to  avert  an  exclamation. 

"  \Vull,  an'  weer  hast  been  a  zetting  thyzell  thease  girt 
time  ? " 

"  Nay,  friend,"  I  said,  "  I  fain  would  make  inquiry  first. 
How  comes  it  that  you  are  now  before  me  as  lively  as  a  morris 
dancer,  when  methought  you  stark  on  Sedgemoor  plain?" 

"  Twas  zo,  Ned ;  yet  the  Lord  ordereth  all  things  for  tha 
best.  It  zaved  my  neck  did  thickee  cavalryman's  zord,  though 
'er  like  tii  ha'  dued  vor  me  althegither." 

He  pushed  the  hair  back  from  his  forehead,  and  thereby 
revealed  a  long  deep  scar. 

"  A  weary  journey  home  it  was,  I  can  tellee,  and  hence  I 
should  ne'er  ha'  coom  ef  gude  friends  had  not  succored  me 
in  my  need." 

"  We  had  been  taken  ere  you  got  back,  Tobe." 

"  Ay,  an'  tha  next  week  arter  thygwoing  away,  thickee  Eras- 
tian  butcher,  Kirke,  himsell  did  coom.  Tha  zon  o'  Anti-christ 
left  poor  Bill  Marzon  on  yander  zapling,  an'  Nat  Biddle  t'other 
zide  on  it,  wi'  'iz  ole  mother  a  zitting  crazed  at  'iz  feet." 

The  blacksmith,  as  he  spoke,  pointed  across  to  the  field 
opposite,  where  two  slender  trees  were  obscurely  outlined 
against  the  shadowy  vapor  of  the  _sky  ;  and  though  the  light 
was  nearly  spent,  I  could  plainly  see  the  man's  eyes  blazing 
from  a  face  of  wrath. 

After  a  moment,  however,  his  voice  lowered,  and  the  harsh- 
ness left  it.  His  visage  softened  also  when  he  said — 

"  But  tha  Lord  hath  uz  all  in  'Iz  keeping  ;  yea,  we  are  'Iz 
chillern,  and  'E  mut  needs  chastise  uz.  Now,  Ned,  I  ha'  telled 
'e  on  mine  own  adventures,  zo  et  be  toime  thine  weer  heered.'' 

If  the  choice  had  been  entirely  mine,  a  discreet  silence  would 
have  been  preserved  regarding  them  ;  yet  no  backing  out  could 
there  be  from  the  blacksmith's  curiosity.  Therefore  I  entered 
into  a  full  confession.  My  heart  was  not  a  good  one  for  the 
task,  for  I  was  fearful  of  offending  his  high  integrity. 

By  this  it  had  grown  quite  dark,  thus  I  had  no  view  of  my 
listener's  face.  Misgivings  beset  me  at  the  outset,  yet  ere  long 
wrongs,  to  my  mind,  appeared  to  outweigh  sins ;  hence  I 
warmed  to  my  task,  and  poured  out  everything  for  his  behoof. 
When  my  recital  was  at  an  end,  stillness  reigned  betwixt  us. 
The  only  sound  in  the  darkness  was  my  restless  horse  pawing 
the  ground. 


CHIL  VERLE  Y  FARM.  5 1 

I  awaited  his  answer,  growing  momently  more  uneasy  at  his 
delay  in  giving  it.  It  came  at  last. 

"  Ned  Armstrong,  begone  vroom  oot  o'  mi  zite  !  Thee  art  a 
cur!" 

He  turned  his  back  on  me,  and  without  so  much  as  a  single 
glance  behind  he  took  himself  inside. 

I  led  my  horse  away  towards  the  homestead  with  a  strange 
coldness  at  the  heart.  Every  false  erection  the  devil  had  built 
to  silence  my  conscience  had  been  thrust  down  forever.  My 
sins  and  my  guilty  soul  were  bared  to  the  light  of  truth.  The 
thunderous  tones  of  the  angry  man  loitered  in  mine  ears,  and 
burnt  themselves  into  my  brain. 

"  Ned  Armstrong,  begone  vroom  oot  o'  mi  zite  !  Thee  art 
a  cur  ! " 

This,  from  the  man  I  loved  best  on  earth,  now  that  my  father 
was  no  more ;  and  he,  too,  had  loved  me  dearly. 

I  came  to  the  farm  gate,  but  stood  there  a  full  ten  minutes, 
having  no  spirit  left  to  enter. 

By  and  by,  I  summoned  courage  to  lift  the  gate  latch,  and  to 
lead  my  animal  past  where  the  pigs  lay  grunting,  along  the 
straw-yard.  I  duly  fixed  him  in  a  vacant  stall  within  the  stable. 
Formerly  Peggy  had  bided  there ;  but  the  faithful  gray  had 
failed  to  bring  back  her  bones  from  her  first  campaign. 

The  candles  were  alight  in  the  kitchen  window,  and  reflected 
whitely  through  the  blind.  Mother,  John,  and  Betty  sat  round 
the  fire — for  the  nights  were  still  chilly — as  I  opened  the  door 
and  strode  in  amongst  them. 

All  three  gave  a  quick  glance  towards  me.  Then  mother 
jumped  up,  and  ran  forward  with  outstretched  arms  of  welcome. 
She  threw  them  around  my  neck  in  a  quick  embrace,  crying 
out  in  joyous  greeting — 

"Oh,  Ned,  Ned,  mine  own  bright  boy!  God  be  praised! 
Thou  hast  come  back  !  " 

Such  is  the  way  of  mothers. 

My  brother  and  sister  came  towards  me  very  glad,  with  an 
air  half  shy,  half  sprightly. 

Some  time  went  by  ere  these  loving  recognitions  were  com- 
plete. No  sooner  were  they  ended  than  dear  mother,  just  the 
same  as  ever,  set  about  with  astonishing  alacrity  to  prepare  a 
steaming  meal. 

The  four  of  us  partook  of  it  together,  and  smiling  faces  were 
freely  borne.  During  these  happy  moments  care  was  forgotten. 
'Twas  like  the  old  days  revivified — the  beauteous  old  days  ere 
the  fell  blow  descended, — the  thrice  happy  old  days  that  passed 


5  2  MISTKESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VIM 

heedlessly  by,  with  never  a  care  for  the  morrow,  with  never  a 
thought  for  their  fleeting  delight  !  To  me,  however,  the  joyous- 
ness  of  the  evening  was  marred  by  a  void  there  was  no  filling. 
The  grave  kindly  face,  which  had  always  in  my  recollection 
adorned  the  table-head,  was  no  longer  there,  to  invoke  God's 
blessing  on  the  fare,  or  to  smile  benignantly  at  his  children's 
early  wit. 

Supper  having  gone  the  way  most  of  its  kind  do  follow,  I  was 
snugly  placed  in  the  chimney  corner-seat,  wherein  father  oft- 
times  of  an  evening  had  sucked  his  pipe  and  drunk  his  beer. 
In  this  honorable  position  I  emulated  my  sire's  example  by  aid 
of  the  self-same  pipe. 

All  three  ministered  to  my  comforts.  John  fetched  a  pair  of 
slippers  from  the  shelf,  that  my  feet  might  be  rested,  for  horse- 
'men's  boots  were  heavy.  Howbeit,  his  manner  of  doing  this 
was  so  monstrous  stately,  that  mother  and  Betty  had  to  gasp 
for  breath,  such  was  the  vigor  of  their  laughter.  Betty,  on  her 
own  part,  gave  a  worthy  exposition  as  to  the  proper  mode  of  per- 
forming these  kindly  offices.  In  the  twitch  of  an  eyelid  my 
churchwarden  was  charged  from  the  tobacco-box  over  the 
mantel-shelf,  and  a  smoking  bowl  of  luscious  rum  punch  was 
brewed ;  and,  as  my  lips  shall  surely  testify,  no  other  have  I 
tasted  since  to  beat  it.  Mark  you  !  all  this  was  daintily  done 
by  a  plump  young  maiden,  who  laughed  the  while,  without  any 
show  of  hurrying.  Thereupon,  so  smitten  was  I  with  such 
amiable  dexterity,  that  straightway  I  must  needs  jump  up  and 
kiss  her,  not  twice,  nor  thrice,  but  six  times  over.  This  re- 
prehensible proceeding  set  rosiness  in  her  cheek. 

"  Fie,  fie,  brother  Ned  !  "  she  remonstrated.  "  I  will  brook 
no  such  unseemly  levity." 

"  1'  faith,  mistress,"  I  returned,  "  methinks  thou  wilt  ere  long ; 
for  when  pretty  maidens  learn  to  concoct  rum  punch,  and  to 
charge  a  pipe  so  very  deftly,  I'll  warrant  there  is  a  cavalier  at 
no  great  distance." 

Alteration  was  apparent  in  them  all.  John  had  grown  into  a 
fine  tall  fellow,  far  outstripping  me  in  point  of  stature.  A  sober- 
minded  one,  too,  who  jogged  along  at  his  own  pace,  paying  no 
heed  to  the  world  at  large,  but  treading  his  own  path  in  his  own 
good  time.  He  was  three  years  younger  than  I,  and  certainly 
not  ill-favored.  A  rare  and  comely  lass  Betty  had  become,  she 
being  born  a  year  later  than  John.  My  gaze  was  pleasured  by 
the  sight  of  her ;  and,  I  doubt  not,  so  was  many  another's,  see- 
ing that  she  possessed  a  cheerful  laugh  and  a  healthful  beauty. 
As  for  mother,  she  was  changed  the  least  of  all.  Save  that  a 


CH1L  VERLE  Y  FARM. 


S3 


few  silver  hairs  had  stolen  where  aforetime  there  were  not  any, 
and,  mayhap,  that  her  spirits  were  not  quite  what  they  were  of 
yore,  she  was  still  the  same. 

This  blessed  night  hath  lingered  always  in  my  memory.  In 
a  circle  we  were  ranged  around  the  fire  ;  I  in  blissful  comfort, 
with  limbs  at  ease,  and  with  downy  cushions  for  my  back.  All 
eagerness  were  they  for  information  of  my  adventures,  as  naught 
was  known  of  them.  Their  impatience  was  soon  manifest,  see- 
ing that  Betty  at  once  beset  me  with  eager  questions.  Previ- 
ously, I  had  determined  that  from  no  words  of  mine  should  they 
obtain  the  knowledge  of  my  inquities.  That  this  resolution  had 
been  too  hastily  made  was  quickly  proven.  At  first  I  gave  no 
answer,  but  thrust  my  head  backwards  against  the  chair,  puffing 
gravely  the  while,  and  contemplating  the  rows  of  flitches  over- 
head, as  if  meditatively  indifferent. 

This  was  very  well  to  begin  with  ;  but  soon  their  patience 
became  exhausted,  and  I  was  sorely  pressed  to  make  reply. 
First  one,  and  then  another  pestered  me,  tho'  my  intention  was 
far  from  revealing  the  dark  phases  in  my  history.  Therefore  I 
sought  refuge  in  evasion.  Most  concernedly  did  I  inquire  after 
the  health  of  Parson  Pridgin,  our  village  pastor,  and  of  that  of 
the  old  ram,  who  once  on  a  time  had  butted  me  with  such 
severity  in  the  region  of  the  doublet,  that  no  breath  had  been 
left  behind  it.  However,  my  fencing  mattered  not,  as  ere  long 
I  was  plied  on  every  side ;  and  at  length  my  guard  was  fairly 
beaten  down,  when  mother  said  straight  out — 

"  What  have  you  to  conceal,  Ned,  that  you  thwart  us  so  ? " 

"  Hey,  hey,  I'm  fairly  pinked,  mother  mine.  If  ye  must 
know,  hast  ever  heard  of  Black  Ned  ?  " 

"  Of  course  we  have  !  "  exclaimed  John  with  interest. 

"  'Tis  said  he  is  a  desperate  fellow,  who  hath  fear  for  none." 

"  'Pon  my  word  that's  so,"  said  John  again.  "  Did  he  not 
beset  and  rob  the  King's  Commander  in  these  parts  last 
year  ?  " 

"  And  did  he  not  dandle  the  sheriff  all  over  the  county  after 
him,  and  in  the  end  did  souse  him  in  Shepton  ditch  ?"  put  in 
Betty,  for  the  deeds  of  this  famous  rogue  filled  the  mouth  of 
nearly  every  man  and  maiden  in  the  shire. 

"  Hast  ever  seen  him  ?  "  I  queried. 

"That  I  never  have;  would  that  I  might;  his  name  and 
fame  are  bandied  everywhere,"  quoth  John. 

"  Come,  come,  sir,  have  some  respect  for  the  truth,  as  be- 
hoves a  member  of  our  family." 


54  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR VIN. 

Twas  plain  this  was  one  depth  below  his  ability  to  fathom, 
for  he  scratched  his  head  with  a  comical  air  of  mystery. 

"  What  meanest  thou  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Tut,  man  !  "  said  I,  "my  meaning  is  plain.  Unless  I  am 
much  mistaken,  thou  hast  seen  him  often." 

"  Ned,  I  account  this  a  weak  jest,"  he  answered,  his  temper 
ruffling. 

"  Ocls  niggers,  boy  !  I  speak  in  good  sooth.  Did  I  not  say 
you  had  seen  him  often  ?  Furthermore,  you  have  held  speech 
with  him  ;  and,  to  be  explicit,  do  so  precisely  at  this  moment. 
I  am  Black  Ned." 

The  three  auditors  stared  hard  at  me  in  blank  astonishment. 
'Twas  my  business  then  to  startle  folks,  yet  assuredly  never  did 
I  see  a  trio  more  dumfounded. 

"  'Tis  a  feeble  jest,"  observed  the  unbelieving  John. 

"  So  you  say,  my  master,  but  'twixt  ourselves  'twould  be,  me- 
thinks,  something  of  a  costly  one  for  thee,  should  I  chance  to 
meet  thee  with  a  heavy  purse  some  fine  night  a-coming  from 
Kingston  market." 

At  that  they  laughed  outright,  and  refused  in  the  most  ab- 
solute manner  to  accept  the  truth.  Here  was  the  chance  to 
play  the  coward  ;  and  Tebe  Hancock's  rebuff  being  still  hot  in 
my  memory,  it  undermined  my  new-found  courage,  and  so 
worthy  inclination  broke  and  fled  before  the  wiles  of  insidious 
temptation.  Thus,  between  their  scepticism  and  the  black- 
smith's blow,  I  drifted  into  subterfuge,  deceit,  and  a  strange, 
new  kind  of  trickery.  Seeing  that  they  could  not  on  this  occa- 
sion discriminate  betwixt  truth  and  untruth,  I  gave  them  an 
uncolored  account  of  my  exploits  and  mode  of  life,  and  hoped 
all  the  time  that  they  would  disbelieve  it. 

And  this  is  exactly  what  they  did.  I  laughed  with  them  and 
joked  with  them,  and  kept  my  countenance  (as  best  I  might) 
continuously  cheerful.  My  conscience  gave  me  a  twinge  now 
and  then,  my  honor,  once  or  twice,  a  sharp  reminder.  Yet, 
somehow,  I  played  the  paltry  game,  and  floundered  through  it 
with  a  craven's  desperation.  I  was  made  to  feel  the  sting  of 
(.•very  jest,  the  bite  of  every  smirk,  the  hollowness  that  lurked 
behind  every  gust  of  laughter.  And  to  me  their  smiles  were 
such  an  added  source  of  torment  that  I  presently  dared  not 
gaze  upon  their  faces.  Would  bedtime  never  come  ?  I  gave 
a  vigilant  eye  to  the  clock  ;  but  every  five  minutes  appeared 
magnified  to  twenty.  By  and  by  I  began  to  yawn,  though  I 
ne'er  felt  more  sleepless  in  my  life,  and  at  last  put  an  end  to 
ihe  bitter  farce  for  the  present  time  by  rising,  rubbing  my  eyes, 


CHIL  VERLE  Y  FARM.  55 

and  calling  for  a  candle.  Not  that  I  was  allowed  to  say  good- 
night, until  a  hearty  compliment  had  been  paid  to  my  powers 
of  romancing. 

I  lay  that  night  in  my  old  chamber.  I  found  everything  un- 
changed therein,  even  to  the  pattern  of  the  counterpane  and 
the  color  of  the  carpet.  The  window  through  which  the  sun 
rays  slanted  over  the  hill-tops  of  a  morning  was  just  as  wide 
and  just  as  high  as  heretofore.  The  old  settle  immediately 
underneath  it  showed  no  more  signs  of  wormwood  and  decay 
than  when  I  had  last  beheld  it.  All  things  were  so  unchanged, 
so  homelike,  so  swathed  in  precious,  tender  memories.  The 
very  spirit  of  the  old  days  seemed  to  haunt  the  place.  For  a 
moment  I  breathed  the  air  of  childhood.  Yet  devilish  mockery 
lay  behind  this  retrospection,  for  of  a  sudden  I  thought  of  the 
bed  the  other  side  the  wall,  and  of  him  who  used  to  lie  there. 
I  thought  of  a  shimmering  mass  of  metal  that  once  reclined  at 
my  bed-foot,  and  of  a  summer  morning  in  the  dread  year  '85. 
Thereat  fantastic  images  of  Judge  Jeffreys  and  the  King  leapt 
before  mine  eyes,  and  that  sight  of  them  was  as  though 
some  fiend  was  trying  to  tear  my  heart  out.  Once  I  saw 
the  look  of  pride  on  my  father's  face,  as  he  talked  in 
his  quiet  way  of  the  antiquity  of  our  house,  and  of  the 
unsullied  honor  of  they  who  had  borne  its  name.  Then 
my  crimes  came  to  me  one  by  one  ;  they  peeped  round  the 
curtains  of  the  bed;  they  perched  on  my  uneasy  pillow ;  they 
lived  with  my  ears  and  eyes.  I  jumped  out  of -the  sheets,  relit 
the  candle,  drew  on  my  small  hose,  and  sat  on  the  bedside 
shivering.  But  one  solitary  flickering  flame  cannot  benumb 
the  power  of  morbid  recollection.  *Twas  Tobe  Hancock's 
awful  face  and  the  hypocrisy  practised  scarce  three  hours  agone 
that  now  menaced  me. 

After  a  while  I  redressed  myself  in  all  particulars,  and  left 
that  place  of  torment.  I  crept  downstairs  with  infinity  of  caution, 
but,  as  if  to  flout  my  vigilance,  the  third  stair  from  the  bottom 
creaked  loudly  underfoot.  I  groped  in  the  darkness  to  the 
kitchen,  and  found  a  chair  beside  the  feeble  embers  of  the  fire. 
I  sat  there  with  my  head  in  my  hands,  and  did  not  look  up  till 
a  secret  sound  of  rustling  roused  me  from  my  lethargy.  For 
the  moment  I  was  startled — a  white-robed,  ghost-like  figure  was 
coming  stealthily  towards  me.  'Twas  my  mother. 

Methought  at  first  that  this  was  some  phantasy  conjured  up 
by  my  disordered  brain ;  but  'twas  no  delusive  apparition,  for  I 
felt  a  light  touch  on  my  shoulder,  and  mother,  clad  in  her  night- 
dress, stooped  and  kissed  my  face. 


56  MISTRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VI N. 

"  My  poor  boy,"  she  whispered  softly,  "  I  heard  you  letve 
your  room." 

Her  voice  told  me  that  sobs  were  fighting  with  her  words.  I 
made  no  reply,  but  felt  a  great  dread  of  any  questions. 

"  I,  too,  could  not  rest,"  she  said  again  ;  then  added,  appre- 
hensively, "  Mine  own  good  lad,  please  tell  me  the  truth  :  you 
did  but  jest  with  us  yestreen  ?  " 

By  this  my  strength  was  spent ;  I   could  offer  no  resistance. 

"  Mother,"  I  answered  slowly,  "  I  have  told  the  truth  already. 
'Tis  no  jest ;  would  to  God  it  were  !  " 

Coming  at  such  a  time,  and  in  so  cruel  a  manner,  she  had 
only  one  course,  and  that  was  to  believe  me. 

"  But  you  jested  so,"  she  gasped,  clinging  to  the  final  straw, 
though  hope  was  already  dead.  I  could  feel  her  bosom  heaving 
pitifully,  it  being  gently  pressed  against  my  shoulder. 

"  I  played  the  coward  last  night.  I  lacked  the  courage  to 
confess  my  hateful  trade !  O  God,  that  I  should  confess  it 
now  !  "  I  broke  forth  wildly. 

Thereupon  a  silence  fell  between  us,  which  at  last  was  broken 
by  poor  mother's  overmastering  sorrow. 

"  Ned,  my  boy,  my  son,"  was  her  only  reproach,  her  only  ex- 
clamation ;  and  three  tears  pattered  on  my  hand.  At  each  I 
winced,  and  afterwards  drooped  my  head  again,  under  my  fur- 
ther weight  of  shame,  of  pain,  of  humiliation. 

Mother  left  me  as  noiselessly  as  she  had  come.  Silence  held 
throughout  the  night,  except  when  broken  by  the  wind  that 
wailed  amid  the  chimney  stacks,  and  screamed  amid  the  half 
bare  branches  of  the  trees  in  the  valleys,  hills,  and  orchards,  a 
mournful  dirge-like  note  of  desolation.  Wretchedly  I  crouched 
across  the  hearthstone,  and  watched  every  ember  fade  to  a 
residue  of  livid  fluff  and  blackened  charcoal. 

When  the  east  showed  signs  of  growing  lighter,  I  stretched 
my  cramped  limbs,  unbarred  the  outer  door,  and  stepped  into 
the  yard.  I  crossed  it  wearily  and  saddled  Joe — my  faithful 
friend  and  servant — in  the  half-light  of  the  dawn.  The  willing 
creature  took  me  hence,  and  for  the  rest  I  cared  not  whither  the 
path  might  lead. 


TREATS  OF  A   WAYSIDE   VENTURE,  57 


CHAPTER   IV. 

TREATS   OF   A   WAYSIDE   VENTURE. 

THE  morning  accorded  exactly  with  my  thoughts.  It  was  dull, 
damp,  miserable.  The  lowering  sky  was  an  inky  mass,  that  met 
the  earth  at  no  great  distance  from  the  eye,  and  enveloped  the 
rocks,  boulders,  and  wooded  coombes  of  the  hills  in  a  shroud  of 
mist.  Worse  than  this,  however,  the  rain  pelted  down  with 
remorseless  persistence,  and  drove  hard  at  the  dejected  traveller. 
In  this  malicious  office  it  was  well  assisted  by  the  scurrying  wind, 
which  seemed  to  blow  from  every  quarter.  The  light  broadened 
slowly,  yet  the  dripping  landscape  was  not  enhanced  thereby ; 
neither  did  the  wind  and  rain  abate.  Before  long  my  hat  and 
cloak  were  sodden  with  the  never-ending  flow  of  water ;  and 
this  added  to  my  discomfort,  for  the  dampness  would  creep  into 
every  crevice  between  my  skin  and  garments.  Not  that  I  heeded 
the  paltry  matter  of  the  elements  on  that  unpropitious  journey, 
as  methinks,  of  all  God's  creatures  I  was  the  most  sorrowful, 
forlorn,  and  desolate  that  morning. 

Joe  wandered  where  he  listed,  their  being  no  guiding  hand 
to  check  his  course.  However,  with  the  instinct  of  his  species, 
he  pursued  the  road  best  known  to  him — namely,  that  leading 
to  the  King's  Head  Tavern,  Bridgewater.  I  prayed  that  by 
some  fortuitous  whim  he  might  carry  me  to  Eternity — such  was 
my  despair.  That  prayer  was  vain,  for  he  traversed  the  peril- 
ous byways  among  the  hills  without  a  falter,  though  often  the 
path  wound  in  and  out,  and  frequently  had  naught  else  but 
name  to  boast  of.  At  other  times  I  must  have  dismounted  and 
led  him  carefully  over  the  rugged  precipitous  track ;  yet  now, 
death  would  have  been  so  merciful,  he  took  singular  care  of  my 
neck,  unaided. 

In  the  course  of  time,  the  Quantocks  were  left  behind,  Joe 
bearing  me  in  safety  to  the  king's  highway,  without  false  step 
or  stumble.  A  heavy  coat  of  mud  lay  on  it  pudding  thick  and 
sticky;  and  every  rut — and  they  were  plentiful,  for  road-making 
was  an  art  unknown  in  Stuart  times — was  filled  with  dirty  water ; 
but  in  despite  of  this  Master  Joe  picked  his  way  with  circum- 
spection, and  kept  his  pace  distinctly  sober  and  sedate. 


58  M/STKKSS  DOKO  THY  MAR riN. 

For  myself  I  had  heed  of  no  material  things,  being  utterly 
bogged  in  the  deadly  muse  that  gripped  me.  As  time  went  on 
and  the  terrors  of  reflection  increased  to  their  fullest  power,  my 
love  of  life,  by  an  inverse  ratio,  waned  and  waned,  and  steadily 
diminished.  I  had  dealt  a  hard  blow  on  my  nearest  and  dear- 
est relative  ;  had  alienated  the  love  of  my  fondest  friend  :  had 
sent  my  father  to  a  shameful  death;  had  deceived  my  kindred; 
and  had  forfeited  my  honor,  soul,  and  body  to  the  devil. 
What  was  there  to  live  for  ?  I  had  not  one  care  or  tie  of  life 
remaining. 

I  shudder  for  the  natural  end  of  this  morbidity  ;  methinks 
the  upshot  would  have  been  perilously  near  a  case  of  self- 
destruction.  However,  I  was  soon  startled  clean  out  of  this 
melancholy  state,  and  in  a  manner  wholly  singular. 

I  suddenly  heard  a  sharp  sound  of  hoofs  behind  me,  and  to 
learn  the  cause  turned  quickly  in  my  saddle.  At  that  precise 
moment  a  horse  dashed  by,  betwixt  my  right  hand  and  the 
hedge.  I  caught  one  glimpse  of  an  enormous  foam-flecked 
creature,  with  quivering  nostrils,  frothy  mouth,  and  wild,  dilated 
eyes,  racing  along  at  the  utmost  speed  it  could  command  ;  and 
to  this  day  I  have  not  seen  its  velocity  equalled. 

Its  awesome  pace,  and  the  way  its  head  clipped  towards  the 
earth,  proclaimed  it  to  be  a  runaway — by  no  means  the  most 
thrilling  matter,  for  there  was  a  rider  on  its  back  ;  and  the  rider 
was  a  girl.  I  saw  at  once  that  help  was  of  the  greatest  urgence 
and  necessity ;  a  tonic  this  for  scattered  wits,  since  it  braced 
my  blood  for  action. 

"  After  'em,  my  beauty  ! "  I  growled  in  the  ear  of  my  dearest 
Joe,  smartly  shook  his  bridle,  and  touched  him  lightly  with  the 
spurs,  whereat  he  darted  after  them,  for  I  never  begged  his  aid 
in  vain.  However,  the  runaway  was  yards  in  front,  and  though 
Joe  was  nothing  of  a  wastrel,  and  of  lighter  build  and  make 
than  he,  'twas  as  much  as  his  willing  limbs  could  do  to  keep 
the  gap  between  us  unincreased,  without  regard  to  its  diminish- 
ment. 

I  may  here  confess  that  the  sight  of  a  maid  in  a  plight  so 
hapless  afflicted  me  with  fear,  tho'  ere  long  these  qualms  under- 
went some  mitigation,  for  the  mode  in  which  the  girl  maintained 
a  firm  seat  in  the  saddle,  and  fought  the  huge  creature  and  en- 
deavored to  check  its  course  by  every  means  at  her  command, 
made  me  considerably  more  hopeful.  In  fact  the  way  she 
brought  every  iota  of  skill  and  strength  to  bear  on  the  bit, 
was  a  noble  sight,  and  one  to  inspire  a  man  with  admiration. 
But  in  spite  of  the  lady's  coolness,  courage,  and  dexterity,  the 


TREATS  OF  A   WAYSIDE  VENTURE.  59 

furious  animal  was  her  master.  Meanwhile  Joe  was  speeding 
to  her  succor  in  his  powerful  deerlike  stride,  and  flinging  the 
mud  and  stones  of  the  miry  road  into  an  upstarting  swirl  be- 
neath his  hoofs. 

I  nerved  my  horse  to  put  forth  every  inch  of  pace,  yet  nerve 
him  as  I  might,  'twas  all  in  vain  ;  our  quarry  still  maintained 
its  lead.  That  lolling-tongued  Bucephalus,  with  every  muscle 
strained,  and  frothy  lather  flying  from  its  mouth,  ne'er  halted 
nor  faltered  in  its  mad  career.  At  last  I  beheld  its  rider  reel 
back  in  the  saddle,  and  terror  fairly  numbed  me,  for  I  knew 
the  reins  had  snapped  and  that  her  horse  was  entirely  free. 
Her  final  chance  was  gone,  and  methought  naught  less  than  a 
kindly  Providence  could  save  her  from  death,  or  at  least  a 
grievous  injury.  'Twas  a  breathless  time,  kinsmen,  the  hedges 
whirling  by  on  either  side,  and  the  wind  and  rain  beating  into 
eyes  and  teeth ;  yet  breast  the  elements  as  we  might,  we  could 
never  get  a  foot  nearer  the  insensate  brute  and  its  splendidly 
courageous  rider. 

A  minute  later  my  heart  bounced  against  my  ribs,  for  of  a 
sudden,  without  the  vestige  of  a  warning,  the  maddened  animal 
stumbled,  lurched,  and  crashed  down  on  its  side  ;  whilst  it 
thrilled  me  through  with  horror  to  see  the  brave,  ill-starred 
maiden  pitched  out  of  the  saddle  a  full  ten  yards,  like  some 
feather-headed  shuttle-cock.  Thereat  I  lost  my  nerve,  groaned 
aloud,  and  almost  seemed  to  feel  my  heart  go  down.  To  me 
the  calamity  was  close  akin  to  personal,  for  faith  !  courage  ap- 
peals to  me  like  naught  else  I  know  of.  I  admire  it  in  all 
forms  and  shapes ;  in  all  things  animate  and  vertebrate  ;  in 
dogs  and  horses,  men  and  women,  and  even  fighting-cocks  ! 

Upon  arriving  on  the  scene  of  the  disaster,  I  dismounted 
swiftly,  but  found  the  attitude  of  horse  and  rider  anything  but 
heartening.  The  thing  that  had  occasioned  all  the  mischief  lay 
on  the  track;  dead  beat,  pumping  breath  out  of  its  mouth  and 
nostrils,  and  its  great  ribs  heaving  and  falling  as  though  a 
blacksmith's  bellows  was  at  work  behind  them. 

My  first  care  was  for  the  lady.  I  found  her  stretched  on  a 
fringe  of  grass  beside  the  road,  lying  with  body  full  ex- 
tended, face  down,  and  motionless.  With  her  methought  'twas 
a  case  of  a  broken  neck,  therefore  was  full  of  tremors  when  I 
dropped  on  my  knees  beside  her.  At  first  I  found  no  sign  of 
life ;  and  may  I  ne'er  again  set  eyes  on  a  woman  in  so  dire  a 
plight.  Her  hat  lay  in  the  mire,  her  riding  cloak  was  daubed 
with  dirt,  and  her  left  hand  and  wrist  were  dripping  blood. 
But  'twas  a  little  simple  thing  that  most  of  all  did  touch  me ; 


60  MISTKESS  DORO  THY  MAR  I  '/A'. 

which  was  to  see  a  very  forest  of  rich  brown  hair,  with  a  red 
ribbon  tied  round  it  daintily.  To  me  it  seemed  so  pretty,  so 
insinuatingly  coquettish,  so  emblematic  of  graceful  girlish 
vanity,  that  for  it  now  to  be  in  such  a  dismal  strait  moved  me 
strangely. 

1  picked  her  up  carefully,  tenderly  took  her  in  my  arms,  and 
placed  her  on  a  grass-grown  mound  of  earth,  then  sought  vainly 
to  learn  the  beating  of  her  heart  or  other  harbingers  of  life. 
Filled  with  misgiving,  again  I  knelt  at  her  side.  Supporting  her 
with  one  arm,  I  fumbled  frantically  in  my  pockets  with  the  other 
hand  for  a  phial  of  eau-de-vie.  This  diligence  was  presently  re- 
warded, for  the  elusive  bottle  was  haled  from  a  snug  recess  in 
my  doublet.  I  parted  her  tight  white  lips  with  difficulty,  and 
thrust  some  of  the  restorative  down  her  throat.  Howbeit  this 
met  with  no  success ;  her  eyes  remained  still  closed,  nor  did 
the  color  come  ;  and  in  the  interval  of  waiting  I  took  upon  my- 
self a  liberty — I  plucked  a  handful  of  clotted  mud  from  her 
fine  dark  hair. 

Now  I  am  aware  this  proceeding  was  the  reverse  of  necessary, 
perchance  to  some  it  may  even  appear  indelicate,  nay,  imper- 
tinent ;  yet  so  beauteous  did  that  hair  appear  to  my  simple 
gaze,  and  so  ill  did  the  clinging  dirt  accord  with  it,  that  like  a 
passionate  sentimentalist,  or  (an  you  will?)  an  ill-conditioned 
Vandal,  I  increased  its  loveliness,  and  thereby  fostered  honest 
admiration. 

After  that  I  kept  plying  strong  water,  though  at  first  the 
effect  was  discouragingly  scanty.  At  last,  inspired  with  the 
determination  of  despair,  I  assembled  all  my  energies  for  one 
great  final  effort.  Meantime  I  had  placed  the  eau-de-vie  on  the 
grass  beside  me,  one  arm  nipped  the  limp  young  creature's 
waist,  a  sympathetic  paw  tenderly  encased  her  damaged  wrist, 
anxious  solicitude  was  writ  large  upon  my  countenance, — and  this 
fair  mistress  quite  unexpectedly  opened  her  eyes  ;  and  lo  !  they 
lit  on  me ! 

Children,  I  am  an  old  man  now,  but  may  God  ne'er  dim 
their  lustre  to  my  memory !  No  sooner  did  those  drooping 
lids  reveal  the  splendor  hid  behind  them,  than  my  addle  pate 
became  piteously  disconcerted  ;  and,  boor-like,  in  answer  to 
her  look  of  wonderment,  I  opened  my  mouth,  and  disclosed 
the  beauty  of  my  teeth.  Now  do  not  for  one  moment  think 
this  was  out  of  a  spirit  of  rivalry  or  emulation  with  her  eyes, 
'twas  just  sheer  inanition  at  the  revelation  of  their  glory. 
Doubtless  the  lady,  in  her  secret  heart,  thought  the  staring 
dolt  so  close  besetting  her  was  neither  more  nor  less  than  a 


TREATS  OF  A   WAYSIDE  VENTURE.  6 1 

stupid  country  clown  devoid  of  sense  or  manners ;  so  the  wider 
your  worthy  parent  parted  his  lips,  the  more  expansive  did  those 
eyes  become,  till  at  length  the  tardy  blood  burst  forth,  and 
mantled  crimson  in  her  cheeks  and  forehead.  Her  senses  quickly 
mustered,  and  mayhap  she  had  gotten  a  full  complement  ere  I 
gathered  enow  of  mine  to  withdraw  my  idiotic  gaze.  For  my 
life  I  could  have  found  no  words  of  speech  at  first,  so  much 
had  my  situation  daunted  me.  And  when  I  did  avert  my  eyes, 
'twas  in  a  hang-dog  style,  with  a  tingling  in  the  ears,  and  much 
hot  blood  near  the  brain. 

Hereabouts  I  manifested  some  desire  to  beat  an  ignominious 
retreat,  by  jumping  over  the  hedge  and  running  away.  Who  can 
tell  but  what  this  might  have  developed  into  an  actuality,  had  not 
something  seemed  to  tell  me  that  to  have  let  go  my  hold  of  the 
lady  in  a  fashion  so  precipitate,  would  have  caused  her,  in  her 
weakly  state,  to  topple  backward  into  the  ditch  behind  ?  Having 
overcome  my  clownish  inclination  for  the  sake  of  so  sweet  a 
mistress,  I  made  haste  to  wriggle  out  of  a  very  compro- 
mising posture.  First  I  slipped  my  hand  with  the  utmost 
care  off  her  injured  wrist,  then  slipped,  mark  you,  more  care- 
fully than  ever,  that  arm  from  round  her  waist.  These  feats 
judiciously  accomplished,  I  breathed  with  a  trifle  more  of 
freedom. 

The  maid  was  timid,  blushing,  coy  at  first,  after  the  manner 
of  her  sex,  when  on  strange  ground,  and  in  strange  company. 
'Tis  wise  procedure  I  trow,  especially  if  this  same  company  be 
masculine,  youthful,  and  warm-hearted.  For  'twill  blush,  too, 
and  be  very  miserable,  whereat  the  lady  hath  undue  advantage, 
as  she  will  undoubtedly  be  composed  the  soonest ;  for  the  sex 
of  womankind,  as  a  general  thing,  is  less  easily  abashed,  and  far 
less  lastingly  than  the  other  one. 

Certes,  'twas  very  like  this  with  me  when  the  maiden  opened 
her  eyes  and  beheld  Ned  Armstrong,  in  no  very  courteous  posi- 
tion, at  her  side.  And  this  same  Ned  Armstrong,  despite 
grievous  misfortune,  being  still  youthful  and  warm-hearted, 
and  feeling  wondrous  guilty  in  his  private  mind,  became  a  prey 
to  real  scarlet-tinted  confusion.  Verily  I  was  a  bold  rogue  then, 
with  the  scantiest  reverence  for  mankind ;  but  let  that  other  sex 
come  by,  then  I  was  an  emblem  of  meekness  and  humility — a 
gallant  trait  that  once  tempted  a  married  friend,  a  meek-eyed 
Benedick,  to  say  that  I  was  fitted  choicely  well  by  nature  for  the 
stormy  sea  of  matters  matrimonial. 

Presently  the  maiden  glanced  upon  her  hurt,  looked  at  the 
phial  of  eau-de-vie,  and  at  the  exhausted  horses  on  the  roadway. 
5 


62  MJSTKESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VI N. 

Thereat  she  rose,  and  courtesying  to  me  with  a  grace  that  we 
don't  grow  in  England,  said — 

"  Sir,  how  can  I  thank  you  ?  " 

From  that  moment  I  have  ne'er  seen  a  maid  so  beautiful. 
Despite  the  havoc  of  the  accident,  there  was  no  mistaking  the 
degree  of  this  fearless  brown-faced  lady,  whose  noble  air, 
gracious,  yet  lofty,  sweet,  yet  commanding,  told  Ned  Armstrong 
surer  than  the  tongue  that  here  was  a  gentlewoman. 

Her  breach  of  silence  dispelled  a  goodly  portion  of  my  em- 
barrassment. So  I,  seeing  her  so  lovely  and  so  finely  bred,  put 
on  company  manners,  and  bowed  with  a  long-drawn-out  polite- 
ness. 

"  I  trust  thou'rt  not  seriously  hurt,  mistress  ? "  I  asked, 
mighty  solicitous. 

'  Not  in  the  least,  sir,"  she  replied,  in  a  swift,  decisive  fashion. 

'  But  your  wrist,  mistress  ?  " 

'  'Tis  nothing.     A  mere  scratch  !  " 

'  But  it  bleeds  profusely.     Please,  let  me  bind  it  up." 

'  No,  no,  thank  you,  sir  !  It  may  bide  with  comfort  till  I  get 
home.  It  hath  only  made  acquaintance  with  a  jagged  stone." 

However,  I  was  obstinate,  and  pressed  the  point  with  dili- 
gence and  such  a  power  of  pleading,  that  by  and  by  she  yielded 
laughingly  to  my  importunity,  and  let  me  bandage  it  with  her 
handkerchief.  I  was  astonished  to  find  how  deep  the  wound 
was  ;  it  went  almost  to  the  bone  ;  and  while  I  handled  it  with 
the  utmost  gentleness  and  care,  I  could  not  help  but  marvel  at 
the  little  thing  she  made  of  it,  which  appeared  quite  contrary  to 
the  custom  of  the  delicately  nurtured.  Yet,  upon  a  close  ob- 
servance, I  found  she  was  not  wholly  stoical,  for  her  face 
blanched  once  more,  and  I  could  feel  her  little  hand  was  trem- 
bling. Observing  that  I  had  detected  these  portents,  she  said, 
doubtless  to  palliate  her  weakness — 

"  'Tis  a  foolish  thing,  I  know,  sir ;  but  I  hate  the  sight  of 
blood  !  "  And  she  turned  her  head  away  confusedly,  as  though 
heartily  ashamed. 

Now  this  struck  me  as  truly  strange,  but  when  I  came  to 
reflect,  it  seemed  of  a  piece  with  her  other  characteristics.  A 
young  and  beautiful  lady  who  rode  a  war-charger,  for  without 
doubt  that  was  the  nature  of  the  runaway,  unattended,  early  on 
a  rainy,  windy  morning,  and  who  handled  it  with  extraordinary 
courage  and  dexterity,  must  needs  differ  in  many  particulars 
from  her  sisters.  In  the  course  of  my  chirurgic  duties,  I  took 
occasion  to  snatch  a  glance  at  my  companion's  face,  and  found 
it  also  very  fine  to  look  at.  Still  I  was  unable  to  drink  in  the 


TREA  TS  OF  A   WA  YSIDE   VENTURE.  63 

fulness  of  its  beauty  all  at  once,  because  if  at  any  period  I 
gazed  upon  it  more  than  ten  seconds  at  a  time,  such  was  the 
vivacity  of  her  eyes,  that  she  was  bound  to  catch  me  staring. 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  when  my  task  was  done,  "  I  fain  would  learn 
the  name  of  my  kindly  succorer ;  I  could  then  thank  him  the 
more  explicitly." 

"  Prithee,  mistress,  do  not  set  so  high  a  value  upon  my  serv- 
ices. It  hath  only  been  with  me  a  case  of  gallop,  instead  of  a 
doleful  walk." 

This  was,  of  course,  a  subterfuge.  Her  question  had  startled 
and  frightened  me,  for  I  felt  myself  to  be  in  a  corner  that  was 
uncomfortably  tight.  Throughout  those  years  of  outlawry  it  had 
ever  been  my  desire  to  conceal  my  real  name,  that  our  high  family 
need  not  be  dragged  down  with  me,  and  not  have  their  honored 
and  ancient  patronymic  bandied  from  mouth  to  mouth  by  virtue 
of  a  rogue  so  vulgar.  Accordingly,  the  familiar  appellation  of 
Black  Ned  had  been  of  such  real  service  in  cloaking  my  true 
identity,  that  none  knew  the  highwayman  was  John  Armstrong's 
son,  save  mother  and  Tobe  Hancock.  Yet  how  could  I  give 
my  professional  name  to  this  young  lady  ?  My  blood  chilled 
at  the  thought.  Howbeit  she  was  not  to  be  deterred  by  any 
equivoque  ;  therefore,  upon  the  repetition  of  her  question,  I 
replied — 

"  Edward  Armstrong,  your  very  good  servant,  mistress." 

"  Dost  claim  kinship  with  the  Copeland  Armstrong,  might  I 
ask,  sir  ?  " 

"  1  am  mine  uncle  Sir  Peter's  nearest  kinsman.  And  by 
what  token  shall  I  remember  you,  mistress  ?  " 

"  As  the  daughter  of  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin  of  Kelston  Manor, 
who  will  ne'er  forget  thy  kindly  services." 

Even  as  I  had  pronounced  my  name  I  knew  how  deeply  I 
stood  committed ;  yet  in  justice  to  myself  I  must  advance  an 
extenuating  plea,  as  just  then  I  seemed  the  victim  of  a  crazy 
fascination,  that  somehow  lulled  my  senses. 

Together  we  paid  heed  to  the  horses.  Old  Joe,  the  best  be- 
haved of  his  species,  stood  watching  us  with  indifference.  Not 
so  the  other  animal.  It  still  lay  where  it  had  fallen,  and  its 
condition  appeared  woe-begone  and  pitiable.  Ere  I  could  guess 
what  her  motive  was,  its  mistress  seized  the  bridle  and  raised 
it  on  to  its  legs ;  and,  as  she  did  so,  I  felt  mightily  ashamed  of 
mine  own  backwardness,  and  also  rare  admiration  for  her  skill 
in  the  handling  of  horses. 

"  Master  Armstrong,"  quoth  she  warmly,  "  if  I  only  had  a 
man's  arm,  and  a  stout  stick  to  assist  it,  I'd  give  this  gentle- 


64  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

man  the  biggest  hiding  he's  had  for  many  a  year.  I'd  either 
knock  sense  into  him,  or  knock  the  nonsense  out." 

At  that  I  could  not  conceal  a  smile. 

"  Nay,  sir,"  she  flashed  indignantly,  "  tis  no  laughing  matter. 
When  Sir  Nicholas  sees  him  in  this  state  there'll  be  an  awful 
noise.  You  see,"  she  added,  by  way  of  explaining  the  cause  of 
so  dire  an  effect,  "  the  bit  wouldn't  hold  the  brute ;  but  I  can 
promise  him,  the  next  time  I  require  his  services,  I'll  have  a 
bit  on  him  that  I  can  break  his  jaw  with,  if  I  find  such  a  meas- 
ure needful." 

Thereupon  she  turned  on  the  delinquent  fiercely,  and  gave 
his  mouth  a  vicious  tug. 

"  Thou  great  fool  !  "  she  exclaimed,  hitting  him  across  the 
nose  ;  and  proceeded  to  scold  him  with  remarkable  asperity. 
However,  at  the  height  of  this  abuse,  she  chanced  to  turn  her 
head,  and  to  see  the  woeful  condition  of  one  shoulder  which 
had  received  a  deep  gash  from  whence  the  blood  streamed 
freely.  For  a  moment  sorrow  and  anger  seemed  to  contend  for 
mastery  in  her  tone  and  countenance.  But,  in  the  end,  the 
softer  emotion  gained  the  day,  for  her  fierce  tones  tailed  off  in 
the  most  comical  manner  possible,  and  she  discarded  anger  for 
a  sigh,  and  in  a  voice  exquisitely  sympathetic  said,  "  Master 
Armstrong,  I'm  a  brute ! "  stamped  her  foot  to  emphasize  the 
fact ;  then  caressingly  slapped  the  late  delinquent's  neck. 

Alas  !  that  unappreciative  beast  shook  himself,  disdainfully 
accounting  this  cosseting  no  privilege.  Whereupon  she  turned 
to  Joe,  who  had  regarded  the  proceedings  with  a  large-eyed 
interest.  Prettily  pleased  was  he  to  receive  her  caresses,  and 
having  a  much  nicer  perception  of  feminine  beauty,  licked  her 
hand  in  response  ;  so,  having  this  proof  of  his  kindly  heart,  she 
fondled  his  ears  and  kissed  the  white  star  on  his  forehead.  Next, 
she  once  more  turned  to  her  own  steed,  and  leading  him  a  few 
yards  forward,  said — 

"  I  must  give  you  good  morning,  Master  Armstrong  ;  I  am 
keeping  Sir  Nicholas  without  his  breakfast,  and  'tis  a  very 
temerarious  thing  to  do,  sir ;  besides,  poor  Wallenstein  must 
have  his  grievous  hurt  dressed  as  soon  as  possible." 

Again  she  thanked  me  a  good  deal  more  than  my  services 
deserved,  then  turned  her  horse's  head,  and  led  him  at  a  brisk 
pace  homeward.  However,  Master  Armstrong,  aetat  twenty- 
four,  marched  after  her  double-quick. 

"One  moment,  mistress!  It  is  more  than  a  mile  to  the 
manor,  I  wot,  and  your  horse  will  sadly  encumber  you.  Allow 
Joe  to  carry  you  thither.  I  will  bring  poor  Wallenstein." 


TREATS  OF  A   WAYSIDE  VENTURE.  65 

"  Thou'rt  truly  kind  and  good,  Master  Armstrong.  But  really, 
sir,  I'm  sure  thou  hast  something  better  worth  the  compassing 
than  aiding  belated  girls  back  to  their  homes  again." 

"  May  I  never  have  a  worse  occupation,  mistress." 

At  first  she  firmly  refused  my  help  ;  but  I,  sorry  for  her  mis- 
fortunes, and  subtly  charmed,  persisted.  Ultimately,  with  many 
thanks,  and  many  more  excuses,  she  assented  to  this  proposal. 
.  Oft-times  in  after  days  I  have  tried  to  square  my  behavior 
on  this  occasion  with  common-sense  and  reason.  Why  was  it 
that  on  one  of  the  most  awful  mornings  of  my  life,  when  the 
gates  of  hell  were  open  wide  before  me,  that  I  should  be  so 
dogged  in  so  trivial  a  matter  ?  And  yet  'twas  by  a  chain  of 
similar  insignificant  events,  and  by  pandering  to  a  wayward 
passion,  that  the  greatest  chapter  in  my  life  was  writ ;  so  that 
when  all  is  said,  the  action  of  that  spring  morning  may  have 
been  in  strict  accordance  with  the  laws  of  human  destiny. 

Ere  we  started  on  the  journey,  I  changed  the  saddles  of  the 
horses,  though  the  lady  would  insist  upon  aiding  me  to  do  so ; 
and  then,  to  my  chagrin,  she  sprang  upon  Joe's  back  without 
tarrying  for  me  to  lend  assistance.  I  said  to  myself,  "  Ned 
Armstrong,  what  an  ungallant  churl  thou  art.  Assuredly,  my 
friend,  thou  hast  much  to  learn  regarding  conduct  in  the  com- 
pany of  sweet  ladies.  Here  you  have  been  too  forward  once, 
and  too  backward  twice  already." 

Our  cavalcade  of  four  did  not  set  forth  till  Mistress  Marvin 
had  executed  an  office  typically  feminine.  She  took  off  her 
hat,  all  in  the  streaming  rain,  then  patted  and  coiled  her  way- 
ward wavy  curls  and  ill-disciplined  tresses  into  some  uncouth 
semblance  of  order. 

"  There  !  "  she  exclaimed,  smiling  satisfaction  ;  and  then  she 
cocked  her  hat,  a  big,  wide-brimmed  one,  adorned  with  a  large 
white  feather,  a  little  to  one  side  at  the  back  of  her  head,  in  a 
jaunty  and  rakish  manner. 

We  had  a  mile  and  a  quarter  to  travel,  yet  for  one  of  us 
twain,  at  least,  our  destination  hove  in  sight  too  soon.  My 
companion's  spirit  soared  above  her  own  misadventures,  and 
over  the  gloom  of  the  morning.  Though  the  skies  were  lower- 
ing and  severe,  though  her  wrist  was  cut  and  painful,  and  her 
garments  were  soaked  with  water,  she  had  never  a  care  for 
such  dreary  mundane  matters.  The  serious  happenings  of  an 
hour  agone  were  things  of  the  past  to  her,  brimming  with  life 
and  fast-flowing  generous  blood. 

Presently  she  thrust  an  ungloved  hand  from  beneath  her 
cloak,  and  held  it  out  to  gauge  the  fall  of  rain. 


66  Mrs  TRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

"  'Tis  a  splendid  morning !  "  she  exclaimed,  fervidly  sniffing 
the  air. 

"  Indeed,"  said  I.  My  tone  was  dubious,  for  I  had  yet  to 
discover  its  delights. 

"  Sir,  I  said  a  splendid  morning.  Now  the  rain  hath  come 
the  fields  and  verdure  are  green  as  can  be.  'Tis  three  weeks 
to-morrow  since  the  last  drops  fell.  How  cool  and  fresh  the 
air  doth  seem.  Methinks  I  would  as  lief  be  out  this  day,  as 
on  the  finest  one  of  summer.  Oh,  'tis  a  healthy  morning. 
'Pen  my  word,  my  appetite  is  outrageously  keen ;  and,  I  say, 
Master  Armstrong,  'twill  be  a  grand  time  for  fishing  this  after- 
noon. And  dost  see  the  frogs,  sir  ?  Just  look  at  the  yellow- 
bellied  monster  yonder.  Faith,  the  biggest  I've  seen  this 
season  !  Friend,  I'll  have  a  closer  view  of  you." 

Kinsmen,  she  was  off  Joe's  back  in  the  batting  of  an  eyelid, 
and  like  a  cat  pounces  on  a  bird,  she  pounced  on  that  unsus- 
pecting reptile.  She  whipped  him  into  one  hand,  and  bore 
him  captive  to  her  saddle.  I  laughed  to  see  the  bewildered 
fellow's  green  eyes  glint  as  she  stroked  his  head,  and  tickled 
his  scraggy  throat.  Having  examined  his  limbs  and  general 
dimensions  with  a  critical  eye,  she  appealed  to  me  to  confirm 
her  judgment. 

"  Isn't  he  a  beauty,  Master  Armstrong  ?  " 

"  No  doubt  of  that,"  said  I. 

"Then,  my  Illustrious,  there's  the  manor  pond  for  you,  sir  ! 
Gently,  big  King  of  Kelston — gently  !  " 

And  despite  his  reptilian  majesty's  squirms  and  struggles, 
she  expertly  slipped  him  into  the  pocket  of  her  riding-coat. 

"  Mistress  Marvin,"  I  said,  "  I  have  a  question  to  ask.  I 
am  puzzled  for  the  reason  that  brings  you  abroad  so  early  on 
such  a  dreary  day,  mounted  on  what  appears  to  me  to  be  a  war- 
charger.  From  what  you  have  already  said,  methinks  I  can 
divine  the  first  cause,  and,  providing  you  do  not  think  me  im- 
pertinent, I  would  like  to  learn  the  second." 

'Twas  her  turn  to  laugh,  and  ye  may  be  sure  she  did  not  let 
the  chance  slip. 

"  Well,  sir,"  she  smilingly  replied,  "come  hail,  come  shine,  I 
ne'er  fail  to  take  a  gallop  before  breakfast.  But  I  was  in  a 
rare  strait  to-day,  when  Martin  the  groom  declared  my  lovely 
sorrel  filly,  Boadicea,  had  caught  cold,  and  that  she  must  not 
on  any  account  go  out.  That's  nonsense,  sir,  preposterous 
nonsense  !  There  was  the  mare  fit  as  a  fiddle  ;  ne'er  saw  her 
looking  better  ;  but  of  course  that  Martin  chuckled  and  said, 
'I've  spoken,  mistress — take  her  by  all  means;  but  if  you  do, 


TREA  TS  Of  A   WA  YSIDE  VENTURE.  67 

I'll  tell  your  father.'  The  ugly  old  villain — that's  how  I'm 
always  pinned !  You  see,  my  old  dad  swears  Martin's  a  man 
of  experience,  and  that  I'm  only  a  chit  of  a  wench,  and  that  if 
I  go  against  that  experience,  'tis  at  my  peril.  Brutally  hard 
on  me,  sir,  I  can  tell  you,  as  if  I  have  any  vanity  it's  because^ 
know  a  bit  about  horseflesh.  Then,  to  make  matters  worse, 
Tilly,  the  jennet,  hath  sprung  a  spavin.  So  what  could  I  do, 
but  take  this  booby  Wallenstein,  who  hath  naught  near  the 
pluck  of  his  grandmother,  who  was  shot  dead  under  papa  at 
Maestricht,  when  he  fought  with  Turenne  in  Holland  ?  Would 
she  have  been  frighted  at  a  covey  of  partridges  whirring  out  of 
a  hedge-bottom  ?  Would  she  have  broken  away,  and  have 
done  her  best  to  break  her  rider's  neck  ?  Martin  will  live  on 
this  for  a  month,  and  papa  will  have  just  a  word  to  say  on  the 
subject.  Sir  Nicholas  is  grand  at  the  lingo  ;  he  swears  brill- 
iantly in  six  different  languages;  but  methinks  I  can  manage 
my  worshipful  sire." 

'Twas  delicious  to  see  the  roguish  merriment  that  glowed  in 
her  eyes.  Ah,  kinsmen,  such  a  sight  would  be  all-sufficient  to 
send  any  young  man's  brawling  through  his  veins.  She  flashed 
the  arch  magnificence  of  those  eyes  on  -me.  Thereat  I  grew 
confused,  and  felt  my  heart  beat  far  quicker  than  the  ordinary. 

Be  it  understood  I  mean  the  heart  of  Master  Edward  Arm- 
strong, aged  twenty-four,  nephew  and  next  of  kin  to  Sir  Peter 
Armstrong,  Bart.,  of  Copeland  Hall,  in  the  county  of  Somerset. 
Regarding  Black  Ned,  I  cannot  name  the  whereabouts  of  that 
notorious  rogue  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  during  that  rainy 
morning  in  the  spring.  Perchance  he  might  have  been  dis- 
covered in  a  baleful  setting,  deep  down  in  your  sire's  hopeless 
soul ;  covered  for  the  nonce  by  a  foolish  rapture.  Perhaps  he 
was  lying  dormant  therein,  assimilating  fresh  fuel  of  bitterness, 
wherewith  to  burst  forth  into  new  malignance ;  though,  when 
all  is  said,  this  is  only  mere  conjecture.  Howbeit,  from  all  of 
it  we  learn  that  even  despair  maketh  not  a  young  heart  old ; 
and,  say  I,  let  us  be  thankful  that  thus  things  are. 


68  M1STXESS  DORO  T21 Y  MA R I  'AV. 


CHAPTER  V. 

SIR    NICHOLAS    MARVIN. 

\\K  rode,  the  maid  and  I,  side  by  side  along  the  muddy  high- 
way, till  presently  we  turned  into  a  small  by-path  leading  from 
it,  and  five  minutes  later  the  abode  of  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin 
stood  before  us.  It  is  known  as  Kelston  Manor,  and  is  with- 
in a  couple  of  miles  of  Bridgwater.  An  avenue  of  tall  trees 
leads  up  to  the  gates,  and  does  its  best  to  blot  out  the  light  of 
daj-,  for  its  arched  boughs  meet  overhead.  The  house  itself 
is  shut  from  ihe  sight  of  all  outside  the  gates,  save  for  a  doubt- 
ful glimpse  of  vane  and  chimney-stack,  that  peep  above  the 
trees.  A  heavy,  close-grown  patch  of  woodland  forms  an  im- 
penetrable boundary  to  the  manor  lands,  which,  to  the  eye,  doth 
appear  naught  better  than  a  wilderness  of  tangled  copse  and 
flowering  vine  intermingled  with  a  mass  of  roots  and  stems  and 
unsymmetric  herbage.  Yet  in  despite  of  woeful  lack  of  order, 
it  looks  quaintly  picturesque,  and  when  the  birds  hop  from 
twig  to  twig,  and  the  squirrels  from  bough  to  bough,  it  becomes 
a  picture  for  the  mind.  Yet  further  afield  than  this  disordered 
growth  of  briar,  trim  parterres  and  velvet  sward  may  be  found, 
set  forth  in  exact  manner  as  become  habitations  so  pretentious. 
Behind  it  a  meandering  brook  flows  through  a  region  of  cool 
grottoes  and  shady  branches,  whilst  higher  up,  nearer  its  source, 
grassy  meadows  skirt  the  banks,  and  'tis  said  numberless  fish 
lie  in  the  depths  of  the  stream,  in  a  bed  of  yielding  clay  and 
moss-grown  boulders. 

Did  time  allow,  I  would  speak  at  length  concerning  this 
favored  spot,  for  'tis  one  that  hath  recalled  pleasant  memories 
amid  dreary  days.  To  return  to  that  gloomy  morning  of  the 
spring,  when  I  first  beheld  it,  e'en  though  the  sun  never  once 
came  through  the  clouds  that  day,  it  stands  out  beautiful  in  my 
recollection. 

Directly  the  manor  gates  (forbidding  iron  objects,  with  a 
wide  mouthed  stone  dragon  set  either  side  of  them),  came  into 
sight,  I  halted  the  injured  Wallenstein,  saying — 

"  I  will  leave  you  now,  mistress,  as  you  are  so  near  home." 

"  I  trust  you  will  do  nothing  of  the  kind,  sir,"  she  replied 


NICHOLAS  MARVIN:  69 

decisively.  "  You  must  share  a  meal  with  us.  Besides  you, 
who  have  rendered  his  only  child  such  splendid  service,  must 
see  Sir  Nicholas,  my  father.  He  hath  been  a  great  soldier  in 
his  time." 

This  last  was  used  as  a  clinching  argument,  and  had  I  been 
unwilling  to  comply  with  the  invitation  (and  I  never  could  re- 
member that  I  was),  I  doubt  whether  I  should  have  found  it  in 
my  heart  to  have  refused  her  anything  in  reason. 

Without  more  ado  she  led  me  through  the  gates,  along  a 
short  broad  path  cut  amongst  the  brushwood.  The  end  of  it 
was  divided  into  two  paths  instead  of  one,  the  first  leading  to  the 
front  of  the  mansion,  and  the  second  to  the  back.  Along  the 
latter  an  oldish  man,  attired  as  a  groom,  and  in  his  shirt  sleeves, 
was  approaching. 

"Hi,  Martin!"  shouted  his  mistress,  slipping  off  Joe's  back 
and  beckoning  the  fellow  towards  her. 

He  came  up,  and  with  a  crabbed  and  sulky  air  listened  to 
her  full  instructions  anent  the  horses.  When  she  pointed  out 
Wallenstein's  condition,  he  half  smiled  to  himself.  She  ended 
by  placing  a  piece  of  silver  in  his  hand,  saying — 

"  Be  a  good  fellow,  Martin,  and  say  nothing  about  this  to 
Sir  Nicholas." 

That  caused  him  to  smile  again,  but  methought  there  was  a 
world  of  meaning  behind  his  affability.  Having  nodded  his 
head,  he  chuckled,  answered,  "  Very  good,  mum  !  "  took  charge 
of  the  horses,  and  led  them  briskly  to  the  stables. 

"  Cantankerous  old  ass  !  "  exclaimed  his  mistress,  gazing 
after  him.  "  I  hope  he'll  have  the  sense  to  keep  his  mouth 
shut.  And,  Master  Armstrong,  I  trust  you  will  bear  these  de- 
sires of  mine  in  mind,  sir;  for  should  papa  hear  of  Wallenstein's 
condition,  there'll  be  some  hard  words  flying  about,  and  per- 
haps some  hard  knocks  too,  for  he  hath  promised  them  many  a 
time." 

To  this  request  I  laughingly  assented.  She  left  me  for  a 
moment  to  go  and  dispose  of  the  frog,  and  upon  her  return  we 
took  that  path  which  curved  to  the  right,  whereby  we  shortly 
arrived  at  the  front  of  the  house. 

An  old  man  was  standing  on  the  entrance  steps,  and  he  was 
the  most  grotesquely  forbidding  gentleman  it  was  ever  my  lot 
to  see.  He  was  tall  and  spare  of  person,  and  had  a  harsh 
ascetic  countenance.  In  height  he  was  quite  six  feet,  and  car- 
ried every  inch  of  it  with  ease  and  dignity,  as  a  soldier  should. 
His  age  seemed  seventy  or  thereabouts,  though  what  seemed 
to  heighten  it  was  the  snowy  whiteness  of  his  hair.  His  face 


7o  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

was  surpassingly  ugly,  bloated  by  undue  attention  to  the  wine- 
pot,  and  adorned  with  one  eye  only.  It  was  set  deep  in  the 
socket,  and  was  peculiarly  fierce  and  restless,  whilst  the  other 
was  permanently  closed.  Two  hideous  scars  intersected  his 
visage,  one  running  diagonally  from  his  left  temple  in  a  livid 
seam  across  the  bridge  of  his  nose  to  his  lower  jaw,  and  the 
other,  less  maleficent,  lay  parallel  with  his  hairless  upper  lip. 
For  the  rest,  his  mouth  was  large  and  thick-lipped,  his  chin 
square  and  unpleasingly  determined,  and  to  sum  up  in  a  word 
his  whole  demeanor,  it  gave  one  the  idea  of  half-restrained 
ferocity.  His  face  was  destitute  of  hair,  except  for  a  two-days' 
down  upon  the  jaw  that  sadly  lacked  a  razor.  His  garb  ac- 
corded with  the  singularity  of  his  countenance.  One  foot  boast- 
ed a  handsome  buckled  shoe,  yet  the  other  had  neither  that,  nor 
boot,  nor  slipper ;  'twas  simply  encased  very  untidily  in  a  cap- 
acious cloth.  White  silk  stockings  adorned  his  legs,  and 
breeches  of  russet-brown  plush,  cut  in  the  newest  style,  his 
thighs.  Surmounting  these  was  a  vest,  a  flowery  mass  of  silk 
brocade  on  a  ground  of  purple ;  whilst  a  lavender  coat,  edged 
with  silver,  and  with  large  bright  buttons  of  the  same  to  match, 
added  further  splendor  to  his  rich  attire.  Strange  to  relate, 
his  neck  was  innocent  of  any  well-arranged  adornment,  his 
throat  being  covered  by  an  unfrilled  cambric  shirt,  neither  clean 
nor  prepossessing,  which,  in  combination  with  his  unshaved 
chin,  his  unwigged  head,  his  swathed  foot,  and  resplendent 
dress,  gave  him  an  appearance  at  once  comic  and  remarkable. 

I  must  have  laughed  aloud  at  an  apparition  so  conspicuously 
whimsical,  had  not  good  manners  come  to  my  assistance,  for 
this  was  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin.  Accordingly,  I  suppressed  my 
mirth  to  nothing  more  than  furtive  smiling. 

At  the  first  sight  of  us  twain,  he  hopped  gingerly  off  the  steps 
and  came  towards  us. 

"  How  now,  Dorothy  !  "  he  exclaimed  in  a  loud  grating  tone 
to  his  daughter,  and  then  continued  in  the  language  of  our  con- 
tinental neighbors,  which  I  at  that  time  of  day,  being  unlet- 
tered, and  ill-found  in  knowledge,  was  at  a  loss  to  set  a  mean- 
ing to,  "  Oti  as  tu  ete  ce  temps  ?  Le  dcjetiner  vous  attends  debuts 
une  heure  ou  plus." 

"  Peste  !  "  exclaimed  my  companion  petulantly,  "  a  murrain 
on  thy  French  jargon,  father !  Do  not  remind  me  of  that  hate- 
ful country,  as  dismal  as  a  De  Profundis,  with  its  eternal  aves, 
paternosters,  rosaries,  and  bead-countings.  I  am  a-weary  of 
France  and  convent  walls." 

"  Art  so,  my  wench  ?  "  he  replied  in  his  mother  tongue,  "  then 


SIR  NICHOLAS  MARVIN.  71 

'twere  best  thou  conquered  thy  aversion,  for  convent  walls  alone 
fit  the  likes  o'  thee.  Henker  !  thither  shalt  thou  return."  Here 
he  broke  into  a  flight  of  tremendous  language,  English  and 
foreign,  that  fairly  bubbled  with  sprightly  malediction. 

"  But,  papa ! "  interposed  the  erring  maid,  "  I  am  very,  very 
sorry." 

"Sorry,  thou  graceless  hussy!  Pasques-Dieu !  thou  hast 
the  very  greatest  need  to  be.  Dost  see  the  time  ?  "  He  pulled 
out  an  elegant  chronometer  for  her  information.  "  One  hour 
and  a  quarter  past  the  proper  breakfast-hour,  and  I've  had 
never  a  morsel  since  nine  o'  the  clock  last  night.  And  you 
know  full  well,  you  limb  of  evil !  that  to  go  so  long  without  food 
always  gives  me  wind  in  the  stomach.  I  have  it  at  this  mo- 
ment." 

Upon  this  his  daughter  coolly  looked  all  round  her  at  the 
state  of  the  elements,  then  said  with  a  judicial  air — 

"  Yes,  dear  papa,  it  is  a  very  windy  morning.  Really,  sir, 
you  should  not  open  your  mouth  so  wide." 

She  counterfeited  innocent  simplicity  to  such  admirable  per- 
fection, that  at  first  I  was  quite  deceived  and  failed  to  mark 
the  satire.  But  the  knight  did :  to  him  the  shaft  went  home. 

"Little  bitch  !  "  he  growled,  and  fairly  gobbled  in  his  rage. 

Thereupon  I  glanced  at  the  maiden,  and  beheld  sly  mischief 
in  her  eyes  ;  and  saw  that  the  corners  of  her  mouth  were  twitch- 
ing. And  ever  after  that  occasion,  whene'er  it  befell  that  I 
was  uncertain  how  to  take  her  speeches,  I  always  looked  for 
those  secret  signs  of  mirth. 

At  this  juncture  Sir  Nicholas  chanced  to  notice  me.  So 
keenly  had  his  grievances  rankled  hitherto  that  he  had  heeded 
naught  but  them. 

"  Carramba  !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "  who  is  this  young  man,  you 
wayward  imp  of  wickedness  ?  " 

The  wayward  one  was  prompt  of  answer. 

"  This  gentleman  is  Master  Armstrong,  papa,  my  very  true 
friend,  who  did  me  the  greatest  service  an  hour  agone." 

"  Humph  !  I  trust  he  did  not  hinder  you  from  breaking 
your  neck.  If  so,  I'm  thinking  he  hath  performed  a  very 
doubtful  service  to  myself  and  the  world  in  general." 

Peradventure  having  some  conception  of  good  manners,  the 
wrathful  knight  modified  his  tone  to  one  more  befitting  a  gentle- 
man in  his  intercourse  with  a  guest  and  stranger.  He  proffered 
me  his  hand,  saying — 

"Glad  to  see  you,  sir  !  infernally  glad  to  see  you!  But  I 
hope  you'll  be  so  good  as  to  excuse  my  unkempt  appearance. 


7 2  MfSTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

'Tis  all  my  daughter's  fault;  you'd  best  lay  it  to  her  account, 
sir.  Ah,  my  wench  !  mark  my  word,  there'll  be  such  a  reckon- 
ing day  yet  you  little  wot  of.  Here  have  I  been  all  these 
hours  waiting  to  be  shaved  and  none  to  ply  the  razor;  and  my 
clean  shirt  1  cannot  find  it  high  nor  low,  neither  is  there  any 
who  can  dress  my  toe  or  arrange  my  neckerchief.  Devil  take 
all  froward  daughters !  "  He  paused  to  thump  his  stout  stick 
on  the  gravel  walk.  'Twas  laughable  in  the  extreme  how  anger 
and  politeness  strove  one  against  the  other  in  his  conversa- 
tion. 

"Howsoever,"  he  continued,  "I  trust  you  will  be  so  kind, 
sir,  as  to  share  a  meal  with  us,  though  the  capon  is  surely 
spoilt,  and  the  pAte  baked  as  hard  as  a  musket-stock." 

Hereupon  he  stopped  and  more  closely  observed  the  hapless 
Dorothy.  Something  foreign  hopped  out  monstrous  quick,  as 
he  inquired — 

"  Why,  my  wench,  what  under  heaven  hath  befell  thee  ? 
Pink  my  soul !  thou'rt  worse  than  any  baggage  from  Lewkner 
Lane.  You  look  a  real  credit  to  your  sex.  Perhaps  your  lady- 
ship will  explain  that  smutty  face,  that  confounded  hair  ;  and 
draggle-tailed  attire  ?  And  why  dost  keep  one  hand  behind 
thy  back,  most  elegant  damosel  ?  " 

Before  the  maid  could  guess  his  motive,  he  grabbed  her  arm, 
and  jerked  the  bandage  into  view.  "  What  is  under  that  rag  ? " 

"  Nothing,  sir,  but  the  smallest  scratch,"  she  replied,  trying 
to  draw  away  from  him. 

"  Then  why  advertise  it  to  all  the  nation,  and  flaunt  it  in  a 
great  cloth  as  though  a  pound  o'  flesh  were  missing  ?  However, 
I'll  have  a  look  at  it." 

"It  is  nothing,  sir;  I  assure  you  it  is  nothing,"  she  said, 
apprehensively,  and  trying  to  avoid  his  violent  handling. 

However,  without  more  parley,  he  ripped  off  the  bandage; 
and  a  goodly  sprinkling  of  blood  was  to  be  seen  on  the  inside 
thereof.  Forthwith  the  hurt  underwent  close  scrutiny.  He 
pulled  apart  the  jagged  edges  of  the  wound,  without  the  least 
regard  to  gentleness  or  mercy,  probed  the  depth  with  his  fore- 
finger, pushed  it  calmly  here  and  there  within  it ;  and  all  the 
while  his  daughter  bore  it  patient  as  a  lamb. 

"  Hum  !  a  mere  skin  slit." 

"  That  is  all,  sir,"  she  answered  faintly.  By  this  I  could  see 
her  wincing  under  the  brutal  treatment.  Once  more  her  face 
had  blanched  ;  whilst  the  blood,  disturbed  by  such  unkind 
usage,  again  flowed  freely  from  her  wrist.  I  never  felt  a  more 
earnest  desire  in  all  my  life  to  insult  a  man  as  I  did  just  then. 


S/A>  NICHOLAS  MARVIN.  73 

"  Sir,"  said  I,  as  calmly  as  I  could,  "  I  am  afraid  you  are  giv- 
ing the  lady  unnecessary  pain." 

"  Master  Armstrong,"  returned  the  victim,  her  promptitude 
remarkable,  "  my  father  hath  great  skill  in  the  treatment  of 
wounds.  Sir,  you  forget  that  he  hath  lived  among  them  from 
his  childhood." 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  rebuke  implied  ;'  nor  was  I  slow 
to  detect  something  significantly  haughty  in  her  tone  and  manner. 
As  for  the  callous  old  knight,  he  gazed  at  me  with  singular 
deliberation,  then  asked — 

"  What  was  that  you  were  pleased  to  observe,  sir  ?  " 

Being  nettled  at  the  demeanor  of  both  father  and  daughter, 
I  boldly  repeated  what  I  had  said. 

"  Pshaw  !  "  said  he,  "  not  much  of  the  soldier  about  thee,  mon 
ami.  Merely  a  damned  civilian,  I  see." 

"  Sir,"  said  I  hotly,  "  your  language  is  not  that  of  a  gentle- 
man." 

At  that  Mistress  Marvin  blushed  a  lovely  red,  and  looked 
beautifully  angry. 

Meantime  her  father  curled  his  ugly  lip  and  retorted — 

"  I  repeat,  sir,  merely  a  damned  civilian  !  " 

"  And  who  may  you  be,  sir  knight  ? "  I  sneered,  for  now 
temper  was  mastering  judgment'  and  discretion. 

"  Who  am  1,  my  lad  ?  Wench,  fetch  my  sword,  and  I'll  teach 
the  callant  who  I  am." 

"  Master  Armstrong,"  said  the  lady,  stepping  forward,  her  eyes 
magnificent,  and  every  line  of  her  imperious  and  queenlike, 
"  you  ask  who  my  father  is.  He  is  a  great  soldier,  sir.  I  may 
say  he  hath  participated  in  eleven  pitched  battles,  fourteen 
sieges,  fourteen  ambuscades  or  bushments,  five  escalados,  ten 
intakings,  eight  camisados,  twenty-three  duellos,  and  divers 
other  engagements." 

Methought  it  the  finest  sight  in  the  world  to  see  her  so, 
though  'twas  plain  I  had  unwittingly  blundered  into  a  hornet's 
nest.  Here  were  the  oppressor  and  the  sufferer  both  arrayed 
against  me ;  for  the  one  I  sought  to  serve  was  taking  up  the 
cudgels  on  the  other  side,  and  though  I  greatly  admired  her 
staunchness  to  the  knight,  I  was  undoubtedly  hurt  at  her  in- 
gratitude towards  myself. 

"  Wench,  do  as  ye're  bidden,  and  fetch  my  sword,"  growled 
the  irate  warrior. 

"  Dear  father, "  she  replied,  "you  know  I'm  always  willing 
that  you  should  fight  when  the  occasion  demands  and  calls  for  a 
passado.  But  this  gentleman  is  our  guest,  he  hath  most  kindly 


7 4  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR VIN. 

succored  me  this  day  ;  and  'twould  be  a  cruelty  to  pit  him,  \vho 
hath  not  been  bred  to  the  profession,  against  one  of  thy  proven 
calibre  and  experience." 

"  Madam,"  quoth  I  stiffly,  for  be  it  known  by  this  I  was 
pretty  deeply  galled,  "  I  am  entirely  at  your  father's  service." 

"  There,  girl !  hear  ye  that  ?  "  cried  the  knight  with  glee,  "  art 
going  to  fetch  my  sword  ?  " 

"No,  sir,  I  am  not,"  she  said  with  amazing  boldness  and 
determination. 

For  the  moment  I  feared  her  enraged  sire  would  belabor  her 
with  his  stick.  Apparently,  however,  he  ultimately  thought 
better  of  the  matter,  for  after  delivering  himself  of  many  lusty 
oaths,  and  presenting  many  ferocious  grimaces  to  the  pair  of  us, 
he  exclaimed — 

"  By  thunder,  I'll  fetch  it  myself  !  "  whereat  he  went  hobbling 
towards  the  house  as  fast  as  his  decrepit  limbs  would  carry  him. 
In  an  instant  his  daughter's  manner  changed. 

"  Oh,  sir  !"  she  implored  in  a  tone  of  eager  entreaty,  "for 
Heaven's  sake  forbear  ;  he  would  be  a  mere  child  beside  one  of 
thy  youth,  strength,  and  vigor.  He  is  a  fine-spirited  old 
soldier,  and  hath  a  wondrous  knowledge  of  swordsmanship,  but 
alack  !  he  is  seventy-two  next  birthday ;  and  see,  he  is  that 
afflicted  with  the  gout  he  can  scarcely  crawl.  Master  Arm- 
strong, your  readiness  hath  proved  you  a  brave  man,  please 
prove  yourself  braver  still  by  declining  to  unsheath  your  sword 
against  him." 

I  was  astounded  at  these  changes  of  tactics.  A  minute  agone 
she  was  his  second,  his  aider  and  abettor,  but  now  the  ex- 
traordinary girl  was  endeavoring  to  avert  the  threatened  conflict. 
In  a  measure  she  guessed  my  thoughts,  for  she  added — 

"  I  am  begging  you  to  withdraw,  sir,  because  I  know  my 
father  too  well  to  attempt  to  persuade  him  to  do  so.  \Yhen  he 
feels  himself  affronted  he  is  always  willing  to  push  the  matter  to 
the  point  of  bloodshed.  And  he  will  ne'er  make  a  single  con- 
cession or  recantation  until  his  adversary  hath  made  the  first. 
Master  Armstrong,  I  conjure  you  to  grant  me  this  favor !  " 

I  was  utterly  incapable  of  resisting  so  fervent  an  appeal ; 
besides,  it  would  have  been  a  paltry  thing,  no  matter  what  the 
provocation,  for  a  fellow  of  my  age  to  have  crossed  swords  with 
a  man  so  old.  Accordingly,  accompanied  by  the  lady,  I  has- 
tened after  him,  and  came  up  with  him  at  the  bottom  of  the 
entrance  steps. 

"  Sir,"  said  I,  "  I  am  willing  to  let  the  matter  rest." 

"  No  doubt,  my  man,  no  doubt.    But,  for  mine  own  part,  I  am 


SfK  NICHOLAS  MARVIN,  75 

not  so  far  advanced  in  my  dotage  as  to  sit  down  by  such  talk 
from  a  mere  civilian."  And  the  fiery  old  war-dog  commenced 
ascending  the  steps.  However,  his  daughter  came  forward, 
and  fearlessly  seized  the  tail  of  his  coat. 

"  Dorothy,  ye  she-devil,  how  dare  you  !  " 

"  Hold,  father !  Dost  not  see  this  gentleman  is  very  mag- 
nanimous ?  'Twas  you,  sir,  who  began  the  quarrel." 

"  Mort-Dieu  !  then  I'll  finish  it." 

In  the  meantime  the  devoted  Dorothy  was  energetically 
whispering  to  me — 

"  Conciliate,  sir — conciliate  !  See  what  a  mettle  old  game- 
cock it  is  !  Smooth  its  feathers  !  Stroke  its  plumage  !  Re- 
tract, sir  ! — take  back  thy  words,  please  do,  sir  !  " 

I  was  instantly  obedient  to  her,  whom,  I  may  remark,  cooler 
men  than  myself  must  have  found  irresistible. 

"  Dorothy,  ye  saucy  slut,"  clamored  the  knight,  "  let  go  my 
coat !  Unhand  me  this  moment,  or  I'll " 

"  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin,"  I  interposed,  to  stifle  more  of  his 
abuse,  "  in  deference  to  your  daughter,  sir,  I  will  withdraw  all 
I  have  said  that  you  may  deem  obnoxious  towards  yourself." 

"In  deference  to  my  daughter,  hey?  In  deference  to  my 
fiddlestick  !  Strike  me  purple  !  I  like  that ;  'tis  a  jest  that 
tickles  my  humor.  In  deference  to  your  own  precious  skin, 
sir,  ye  should  have  said.  But  what  can  one  expect  from  a 
puny  commercial  clown,  from  a  thimble-rigging  lawyer's  clerk, 
or  from  a  chuckle-headed  chapman's  'prentice?  Sooth,  now  I 
come  to  think,  'twould  be  daylight  murder  to  draw  on  such  as 
thou  !  I  say  again,  y'are  a  mere  mechanical  peace-on-earth- 
and-good-will-toward-men  civilian.  Just  that !  "  and  this  el- 
derly Bobadil  snapped  his  fingers  in  my  face. 

This  was  a  terrible  strain  on  a  young  man's  pride  and  self- 
control.  My  hands  itched,  my  fingers  trembled,  and  the  blood 
tingled  in  my  veins. 

"  Sir !  "  I  began  furiously,  when  Mistress  Marvin  lightly 
touched  my  hand. 

"  Be  merciful  to  me"  she  whispered  ;  and  somehow,  strength- 
ened by  this  new  appeal,  I  managed  with  a  struggle  to  overcome 
my  very  righteous  anger. 

"  Dorothy,  ye  little  beast,  let  go  my  coat !  " 

"  Father,"  quoth  the  maid,  dauntless  as  ever,  and  with  sub- 
lime earnestness  painted  on  her  face,  "  you  insult  this  gentle- 
man." 

"  Silence,  thou  brazen  chit." 

"  I  say  you   insult  him,  sir!     Dost  know  he  is  the  kinsman 


76  Ml 'STRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

and  next  of  kin  to  Sir  Peter  Armstrong  of  Copeland  Hall  ? 
And  you  are  aware  that  house  is  as  famed  for  courage  as  our 
own.  I  never  heard  of  a  white-livered  Armstrong  yet." 

At  that  the  knight  looked  me  keenly  over,  and  declared — 

"  Why.  to  be  sure,  he  is  the  image  of  his  kinsman,  mine  old 
ftiend,  Sir  Peter.  I  wondered  where  I  had  seen  that  face." 

At  this  revelation  of  my  lineage  and  high  connections  his 
anger  wonderfully  evaporated. 

"  You  will  now  understand,  sir,  that  it  is  only  at  my  express 
request  that  Master  Armstrong  declines  to  draw  his  sword," 
continued  the  indomitable  Dorothy,  who,  like  a  skilful  general, 
made  haste  to  follow  up  her  first  advantage. 

"  Let  no  more  be  said,"  quoth  Sir  Nicholas  in  a  fit  of  colos- 
sal generosity.  "  Since  the  lad  hath  avowed  his  fault,  and  eaten 
his  words,  we'll  take  it  for  granted  that  he  hath  the  fighting 
spunk  of  the  tough  Armstrong  stock.  Yet,  lad,  hearken  to  an 
old  soldier's  advice :  let  not  thy  tongue  wag  so  fast  hereafter 
wi'out  thou  art  minded  to  back  it  with  sword  as " 

"  Bosh  !  "  cried  the  maid,  releasing  his  coat  at  last. 

However,  she  at  once  showed  she  had  by  no  means  exhausted 
her  designs  upon  his  person,  for  she  seized  his  right  hand  and 
placed  it  in  mine. 

At  first  we  felt  and  looked  very  like  a  couple  of  snarling  dogs, 
till  I  chanced  to  peep  at  the  charming  creature  who  had  so 
cleverly  patched  up  the  truce  between  us,  and  I  saw  an  expres- 
sion of  such  lively  gratitude  on  her  face  that  I  smiled  at  my 
enemy,  whereupon  he  smiled  too,  and  so  the  peace  was  con- 
summated. The  knight  drew  his  delighted  and  triumphant 
daughter  towards  him. 

"  Master  Armstrong,"  he  declared,  "  a  forward  minx  is 
this,  sir!  I  have  given  Martin  orders  to  procure  a  curb  for 
her." 

Afterwards  the  relentless  barbarian  betook  himself  to  the 
original  cause  of  the  contention,  as  he  further  examined  the 
bleeding  wrist. 

"  Best  go,  my  lass,  and  have  some  brine  rubbed  in,  and  then 
a  drop  or  two  of  balsam." 

"  Ugh  !  "  she  exclaimed,  even  her  bravery  not  proof  against 
this.  "  Not  that  horrid  balsam,  papa — it  hurts  terribly,  and 
salt  is  very  keen." 

"  Hurt,  be  hanged,  thou  great  milksop!  How  would  ye  be 
on  the  field  o'  battle,  with  half  your  face  shorn  away,  as  I  have 
been  ?  Ye  might  be  permitted  to  speak  a  word  then.  But  to 
make  a  wry  lip  over  a  paltry  skin-breaking — bah  ! — I  have  no 
patience  !  " 


A  BALM  FOR  THE  CARK  OF  CARE.  77 

"  I  am  not  a  milksop,  sir !  "  she  said  quickly,  but  for  all  that 
there  was  fear  in  her  face.  Yet  without  another  word  she 
darted  up  the  steps,  and  left  the  knight  and  me  to  follow  at 
our  leisure. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

A  BALM  FOR  THE  CARK  OF  CARE. 

THE  knight  conducted  me  indoors  to  a  bright  and  spacious 
room  at  the  end  of  the  entrance  hall.  It  appeared  particularly 
cheery  and  attractive  by  contrast  with  the  gloomy  weather, 
as  the  table  was  spread  for  breakfast,  and  a  lire  was  glowing  in 
the  grate. 

Sir  Nicholas  having  recovered  his  equanimity,  proffered  me 
a  seat  beside  the  hearth,  whilst  he  assumed  one  opposite. 
Only  a  few  words  of  conversation  passed  ere  the  young  lady 
joined  us,  her  scathe  bound  up  more  exactly  in  a  clean 
bandage. 

"  Ye  don't  find  much  amiss  with  it  now,  my  lass  ?  "  inquired 
the  knight,  giving  a  sharp  glance  to  the  injured  member. 

"  N-no,  sir,  n-not  much,"  gasped  the  suffering  maid,  her 
mouth  compressed,  and  her  eyes  full  of  pain. 

"  Master  Armstrong,"  she  said,  turning  to  me  and  trying 
might  and  main  to  speak  as  though  naught  ailed  her,  "  I  must 
beg  you  to  excuse  my  father  and  myself  for  ten  minutes,  that 
we  may  the  more  fittingly  entertain  you.  This,  sir,  is  Dr. 
Samuel  Butler's  '  Hudibras  '  to  beguile  the  time  ;  or  stay  " — 
and  something  of  a  smile  played  on  a  face  so  lately  wan — 
"  perhaps  Dr.  Joseph  Alleine,  pious  man  !  more  nearly  befits 
your  taste?  Here  is  his  '  Alarm  to  the  Unconverted.'  I'm 
proud  to  say  'tis  bravely  thumbed  and  dog's-eared — reflects  real 
credit  on  me,  you'll  admit,  sir." 

Upon  that  they  left  the  apartment.  Still  "  Hudibras  "  re- 
mained unopened  that  morning,  for  mine  eyes  were  busied  with 
a  careful  contemplation  of  the  room.  'Twas  one  truly  beautiful ; 
had  a  wide  expanse  of  carpet,  and  was  relieved  of  the  faintest 
tinge  of  sombreness  by  low  broad  windows  that  admitted  day- 
light in  abundance.  The  most  salient  item  was  a  big  display 
of  warlike  implements  that  occupied  the  whole  of  the  right- 
hand  wall ;  and  as  the  firelight  radiated  on  them,  they  quivered 
brightly  in  their  glittering  profusion.  I  was  examining  them  in 
open  admiration  when  the  knight  re-entered, 
6 


78  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MAR VI N. 

"  Ha,  ha  !  "  he  exclaimed,  well  satisfied.  "  Mon  cher,  I  see 
thou  hast  eyes  for  the  right  knick-knacks.  What  think  you  o' 
that  sword  ?  Stamped  Perillo,  and  the  trustiest  blade  Julian 
del  Rey  ever  banged  hammer  to.  'Tis  of  wrought  Mondragoa 
steel,  and  hath  served  our  family  for  three  generations.  I  have 
it  in  my  memory  how,  when  we  lay  before  Nimeguen,  it  hewed 
a  bull-necked  Dutchman's  head  clean  off  his  body  - 

"  And  how,  at  Naseby,  it  bit  through  the  headpiece  of  a 
captain  in  Ireton's  musketeers,"  put  in  Mistress  Dorothy,  who 
had  slipped  in  unobserved  behind  us. 

She  had  doffed  her  bespattered  riding-dress  in  favor  of  a 
more  becoming  garment,  and  had  also  disposed  of  the  dirt  that 
so  ill  accorded  with  her  skin.  If  she  had  previously  animated 
me  with  admiration  of  her  beauty,  she  charmed  me  now.  I 
was  completely  bewitched  by  those  melting  mirthful  eyes, 
those  mocking  lips,  and  that  mouth  which  was  made  for  laughter. 
Her  form  was  tall  and  lissome  as  a  willow ;  and  each  line  of 
it  was  grace.  Like  her  father,  she  bore  every  inch  of  height 
very  straight  and  easy,  nor  could  she  take  ten  steps  but  what 
she  must  do  so  in  a  regal  manner.  She  carried  her  head 
in  a  dainty  way ;  there  was  archness  in  every  feature  of  her 
face;  a  furtive  sauciness,  a  lingering  tinge  of  flippancy;  and 
her  general  tone  and  bearing  were  a  delicious  mingling  of 
coquetry  and  pride.  Yet  underlying  this  was  a  something 
high-bred,  a  something  queenly,  a  something  imperious  and 
commanding,  that  at  once  forbade  all  liberties  ;  whilst  a  black- 
brown  mass  of  wavy  hair,  and  a  jaunty  cluster  of  precocious 
curls,  wayward  as  their  owner,  exalted  the  charms  of  her  tan- 
talizing countenance. 

Razor  and  neckcloth  had  wrought  material  improvement  in 
the  knight ;  yet  far  surpassing  their  beneficence  was  a  gorgeous 
periwig,  superbly  curled,  and  strongly  charged  with  fluffy  powder. 
Without  further  delay  the  meal  was  given  our  best  attention.  In 
a  short  time  the  host  was  all  good  nature,  and  it  occurs  to  me 
that  a  man's  temper  differs  according  to  the  condition  of  his 
stomach. 

Sir  Nicholas  adorned  the  table-head,  his  daughter  the  table- 
foot,  whilst  I  was  ensconced  midway  betwixt  the  two. 

Unfortunately,  peace  was  not  allowed  to  long  prevail.  The 
soldier  stuck  a  knife  into  an  ill-cooked  pie ;  then  scowled,  and 
sought  further  refuge  in  his  fine  invective  powers. 

"This//i#  hath  far  too  much  tint  upon  it.  It  comes  stiff 
to  the  knife  instead  of  yielding  gently.  Faugh  !  it  sets  my 
teeth  on  edge.  What  has  that  jolterhead  been  about  ? " 


A  BALM  FOR  THE  CAKK  OF  CARE.  79 

The  bell-rope  received  a  vicious  tug.     A  servant  answered  it. 

"  Send  that  dolt  of  a  John  hither  ! "  roared  the  angry  master. 

A  meek-visaged,  placid  fellow  shortly  appeared. 

"  John,  thou  nincompoop,  dost  see  this  pate  de  Perigord  ?  Art 
not  sore  ashamed  ?  Dost  mark  this  uppercrust  ?  Thou  hast 
had  an  hour  o'  the  wooden-horse  in  thy  campaigning  days  with 
a  shot  bag  round  each  ankle  for  a  much  smaller  offence. 
Would  that  1  had  one  in  the  courtyard  now  ! "  He  glared  at 
the  mild  cook,  who  answered  not,  but  bowed  his  head  in  silent 
humility. 

"  Thou  art  a  graceless  varlet,  John.  There,  that  is  for  thee, 
John  !  "  And  to  my  amazement  the  irascible  gentleman  seized 
an  empty  drinking-glass,  and  hurled  it  at  the  erring  servant's 
head.  That  personage  caught  it  deftly  in  one  hand,  and 
silently  replaced  it  upon  the  table.  He  bowed,  and  left  the 
room,  whilst  the  knight  resumed  the  business  of  eating  with  a 
very  threatful  countenance. 

Presently  a  more  important  and  more  discomfiting  incident 
occurred.  There  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and  Martin  the 
groom  entered.  Instantly  I  perceived  that  he  had  a  silver 
coin  in  one  hand.  Mistress  Dorothy  was  quick  to  see  it,  too, 
whereupon  she  gave  a  hasty  glance  towards  me,  then  settled 
herself  more  firmly  in  her  chair,  and  as  she  did  so  the  look  on 
her  face  almost  seemed  to  say,  "  I'm  in  for  it  now  !  "  After 
that  she  assumed  an  air  of  meekness  by  way  of  preparation  for 
the  coming  storm. 

Martin  stated  his  case  concisely  ;  and  during  the  course  of 
the  charge  it  alarmed  me  to  see  the  knight  working  himself  into 
another  tantrum.  Finally,  the  triumphant  Martin,  who  at  every 
word  betrayed  enmity  towards  his  mistress,  informed  his  master 
of  the  bribe,  and  deposited  that  incriminating  piece  of  silver  by 
the  side  of  the  lady's  plate  with  a  look  of  malicious  glee. 

"  Wench,  is  this  true  ? " 

"  Every  word  of  it,  sir,"  she  said  submissively,  though  me- 
thinks  I  saw  that  in  her  eye  which  proved  her  not  quite  so 
humble  as  her  tone  implied. 

The  knight  demanded  an  explanation.  This  the  lady  gave. 
Upon  receipt  of  it  he  commenced  a  torrent  of  abuse  and  im- 
precation, which  the  recipient  promptly  cut  short  by  rising  and 
giving  him  (bold  as  you  please)  a  stately  curtsey.  She  then 
darted  a  look  at  the  gleeful  Martin,  that  might  have  withered 
him  had  he  possessed  nerves  or  feelings,  and  with  the  air  of  a 
haughty  lady,  bade  him  follow  her  from  the  room. 

The  pair  of  them  having  departed  for  the  stables,  Sir  Nicholas 
said  to  me  in  an  ugly  tone — 


8o  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

"What  would  you  do,  sir,  with  one  so  wilful  ?  From  men  I 
have  commanded  obedience  throughout  my  life,  yet  I  find  it 
easier  to  exact  it  from  a  troop  of  horse  than  from  this  young 
chit.  She  flouts  me  at  every  twist  and  turn  !  She  hath  no 
heed  for  chiding ;  if  I  threaten  to  beat  her  she  vows  she'll  ne'er 
touch  a  razor  more,  or  will  not  dress  my  gouty  foot.  If  I 
threaten  her  with  a  return  to  that  French  convent  she  once  was 
so  well  acquainted  with,  the  saucy  minx  declares  I  should 
languish,  or  pine  away  for  lack  of  kind  attention.  'Tis  sad, 
very  sad,  Master  Armstrong,  to  be  afflicted  with  a  kindly  and 
forbearing  heart  like  mine ;  it  makes  one  the  butt  of  any 
springald.  But,  by  my  soul,  sir,  ere  I  am  a  day  older  I'll  have 
an  alteration  !  I'll  teach  that  impudent  hussy  that  I  am  no 
longer  to  be  played  with." 

I  smiled  at  the  arbitrary  sentiments  he  indulged  against  his 
beautiful  tormentress.  Quickly  she  returned.  By  this  her 
lofty  disdain  had  fled,  for  laughter  lit  her  eyes.  She  ran 
blithely  across  the  carpet,  and  halted  by  her  father's  elbow. 

"  I  have  set  poor  Wallenstein  aright,  old  dad  !  I  have  ap- 
plied a  rare  remedy  to  his  scathe,  and  a  warm  feed  lies  at  his 
nose.  He  wants  for  nothing  ;  neither  do  I,  sweetest,  but  a  kiss 
from  thee  !  " 

Prettily  she  proffered  her  cheek  for  its  reception,  but  her 
angry  sire  vehemently  denounced  the  wheedler,  her  delinquen- 
cies, and  her  blandishments.  Yet,  mark  you,  kinsmen,  never 
for  an  instant  did  he  allow  his  eye  to  stray  whither  the  luring 
bait  awaited  him.  Much  wisdom  was  to  be  found  in  this,  for 
I'll  swear,  had  he  once  beheld  it,  'twould  have  been  farewell  to 
resolutions,  for  none  save  an  anchorite  could  have  been  proof 
against  its  loveliness. 

Thwarted  though  she  was,  the  maid  concealed  her  defeat 
under  a  smile,  and  as  she  resumed  her  seat,  she  favored  me 
with  a  glance  of  mischief.  Our  appetites  being  of  the  best 
that  morning  she  stacked  our  platters  anew.  These  ministra- 
tions briskly  performed,  she  looked  at  her  father,  and  with  a 
face  of  exceeding  gravity,  said — 

"  Papa,  touching  our  opinions  of  last  week,  I  may  say  I  still 
maintain  that  naught  can  equal  well-trained  infantry  on  the 
field  of  battle." 

"  Hey,  what  ? "  quoth  the  old  soldier,  bristling  with  atten- 
tion. Even  now  I  smile  at  the  effect  of  her  words.  The  old 
gentleman  forgot  his  wrongs  in  a  moment,  and  was  soon  plunged 
in  a  deep  and,  to  my  mind,  incomprehensible  argument.  And 
all  the  time  I  ne'er  failed  to  observe  his  artful  antagonist  had 


A  BALM  FOR  THE  CARK  OF  CARE.  8l 

the  same  light  in  her  eyes,  and  the  same  twitching  at  the  cor- 
ners of  her  mouth  I  have  already  mentioned. 

"  What  sayest  thou,  Dorothy  ?  I  defy  thee  prove  thy 
words  !  " 

"  Without  any  manner  of  doubt  I  can  prove  them,  sir,  and 
that  right  easily  !  The  valiant  and  learned  Montecuccoli  lays 
it  down  to  the  effect  that,  '  Infanterie  est  comme  la  base  et  le 
soutien  de  Farmee,  soit  pour  les  batailles  soit  pour  les  sieges,  et 
c'est  avec  elle  que  les  Remains  et  les  Suisse  ont  fait  dcs  choses  si 
admirables.  L?  infanterie  doit  done  la  principale  force,  et  la  grande 
fartie  de  Farmee?  There,  sir  !  can  you  gainsay  that  ?  '' 

"  Bah  !  ma  petite,  'tis  all  nonsense !  What  doth  that  beg- 
garly Italian  know  about  the  matter?" 

"  You  do  him  a  wrong,  sir.  I  will  not  hear  him  miscalled. 
There  is  no  man  of  this  generation  better  versed  in  the  theory 
of  war.  He  was  also  named  as  a  fine  captain  in  the  Thirty 
Years'  War,  and  again  bear  in  mind,  sir,  the  gieat  things  he 
did  against  the  Turks  in  Transylvania." 

"  Pish  !  a  mere  pack  of  heathen  Mohammedans." 

"  Yet  remember  Treves,  remember  Treves,  sir  !  " 

"  Donnerwetter  !  lass,  shall  I  ever  forget  it  ?  I  was  there 
myself  that  day,  and  saw  the  greatest  captain  of  the  age 
perish." 

"  And  this  same  Montecuccoli  ?  He  drove  the  whole  army 
across  the  Rhine  like  chaff  before  the  wind,"  exclaimed  this 
warlike  mistress  with  a  ring  of  triumph  in  her  voice. 

"  So  be  it,  wench  ;  ye  score  one  there.  Yet  out  of  mine  own 
experience,  what  of  Edgehill,  Marston  Moor,  and  Naseby  ? 
Didn't  Rupert  (God  bless  him  !)  sweep  the  Roundheads'  left 
clean  off  the  field  ?  My  girl,  those  were  the  times.  We  had 
the  grandest  cavalry  in  Europe,  and,  on  my  soul,  the  grandest 
commander  too  !  'Twas  knee  to  knee  then,  and  saddle-bows 
all  of  a  row.  'Twas  the  sight  of  a  lifetime  to  see  us  sweep 
over  the  field,  a-laughing  at  Essex  or  old  Noll  Cromwell,  and 
to  see  those  psalm-singing  Puritans  chuck  down  their  tucks 
and  run.  Don't  talk  to  me  of  infantry  !  Did  ever  footmen  do 
such  deeds  ? " 

I  can  ne'er  forget  the  old  warrior  at  that  moment.  Mayhap 
he  felt  himself  bestride  his  charger  again.  Verily  the  breath 
of  lusty  manhood  had  returned  to  his  time-worn  frame.  His 
voice  was  pitched  to  its  utmost,  his  eye  ablaze  with  a  glow- 
ing fire,  and  the  rapid  movements  of  his  body,  and  his  wild 
gesticulations,  one  and  all  bespoke  his  intense  excitement,  and 
proclaimed  the  vividness  of  his  recollection. 


82  M/STKESS  DOKO  THY  MA R  VI N. 

However,  his  daughter  staunchly  maintained  her  ground,  in 
no  wise  daunted  by  this  enthusiasm,  though  I  must  admit, 
under  cover  of  it  she  took  occasion  to  forward  to  me  another 
eloquent  glance  of  roguery. 

"The  famous  Sir  John  Froissart,"  she  continued,  "avers 
that  the  footmen " 

"  Confound  Sir  John  Froissart ! "  interrupted  the  knight 
testily.  "  I  will  listen  to  none  o'  your  musty  chroniclers.  I 
prefer  the  book  of  memory." 

As  it  afterwards  befell,  it  seemed  the  contest  had  scarce 
begun.  P'or  every  episode  the  knight  could  recount  demon- 
strating the  superiority  of  cavalry,  the  lady  had  two  at  least  to 
prove  that  infantry  were  better.  The  whole  room  rang  with 
alarming  talk  of  light  horse,  heavy  horse,  dragoons,  musketeers, 
pikemen,  escalades,  camisados,  onfalls,  beleaguered  garrisons, 
pallisados,  estacados,  mines,  counter-mines,  and  a  very  Babel 
of  amazing  military  jargon. 

Of  course  I  was  a  perfect  ignoramus  on  such  an  abstruse 
subject.  Swift  as  a  falcon  the  girl  divined  this  ;  and  though 
her  father  was  too  wholly  absorbed  in  the  present  topic  to  heed 
any  alien  matter,  his  quick-witted  daughter  mischievously 
appealed  to  me  on  a  nice  point,  and  to  her  own  delight,  and 
my  discomfiture,  I  was  compelled  to  exhibit  ignorance. 

For  a  considerable  time  the  vantage  fell  to  neither  side,  till 
at  length  Sir  Nicholas  mentioned  some  strange-sounding  con- 
tinental battle.  Upon  this  his  daughter  pensively  stroked  her 
chin,  and  said  with  a  fine  show  of  reluctance — 

"  I  am  afraid  this  is  a  defeat,  sir.  'Twill  have  to  be  a  case 
of  capitulation." 

The  knight,  without  a  trace  of  his  recent  umbrage,  rubbed 
his  hands  with  gusto. 

"  But  one  moment,  sir,  I  beg,"  cunningly  said  the  lady,  put- 
ting up  one  finger  pertly.  "  This  is  to  be  a  conditional  surren- 
der. You  must  allow  the  vanquished  full  honors  of  war." 

"  Quite  right,  ma  cherie ;  quite  right." 

Thereupon  the  vanquished  rose  and  came  to  the  victor's 
chair,  and  presented  her  cheek  once  more. 

"  The  honors  of  war,  papa,"  she  said  archly  ;  and  they  were 
allowed  forthwith. 

Henceforward  the  elated  warrior  forgot  recent  resolutions, 
and  displayed  considerable  good  humor,  which  enhanced  my 
amusement  and  his  diplomatic  daughter's  satisfaction. 

Breakfast  disposed  of,  the  knight  would  not  hear  of  me  tak- 
ing my  departure,  until  I  had  joined  him  in  a  game  of  piquet. 


A  BALM  FOR  THE  CARK  OF  CARE.  83 

I,  nothing  loth,  assented  without  demur,  and  soon  the  mysteries 
of  sword  and  musket  were  discarded  for  those,  to  my  mind, 
more  alluring  ones  of  piqueing,  repiqueing,  and  capotting. 

'Twas  easy  to  see  that  my  opponent  had  a  keen  love  of  gam- 
bling, and  I  being  as  crafty  a  rogue  as  God  ever  endowed  with 
breath,  it  must  not  surprise  you  to  learn  that  Master  Armstrong 
was  a  loser  that  morning.  Not  a  heavy  one,  certainly  ;  but  his 
losses  were  of  sufficient  amount  for  the  knight  to  taste  the  sweets 
of  gain.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  game  the  blind  fool  said  to  me — 

"  Young  man,  we  have  very  little  company  here,  yet  I  shall 
be  willing  to  have  as  much  of  thine  as  thou'rt  willing  to  bestow 
upon  us.  Come  as  often  as  you  like,  and  the  more  you  come 
the  better  I'll  be  pleased ;  for  I  have  already  a  liking  for  you, 
and  I  have  had  a  liking  for  piquet  this  fifty  years." 

And  when  this  invitation  was  zestfully  seconded  by  his 
daughter,  ye  may  judge  my  approbation.  'Twas  plain  I  had 
made  a  most  favorable,  impression,  and  in  my  folly  I  vowed 
that  I  would  neglect  no  chance  for  its  maintenance.  The  de- 
light of  that  morning  !  I,  who  had  been  in  the  depth  of  that 
abyss,  despair,  had  now  my  youthful  passions  kindled.  I  al- 
ready felt  myself  a  slave  to  that  exquisite  emotion  I  of  all  men 
had  least  right  to  pander  to.  For  was  not  the  man  who  sat  by 
that  enchanting  maid,  who  marked  her  every  bewitching  move- 
ment, Black  Ned,  the  thief,  the  proscribed,  the  outlaw  ?  He 
was  drunk  with  rapture.  Drink !  drink  !  weak  wretch,  drink 
and  be  merry  !  Away  carking  care  !  give  place  to  this  ravish- 
ment !  Let  there  be  no  thought  for  the  morrow,  no  counting 
of  the  cost ! 

Before  I  took  my  departure,  Mistress  Marvin  importuned  me 
into  going  with  her  to  a  corner  of  the  courtyard  where  her  pets 
were  housed.  Among  this  curious  collection  were  to  be  found 
a  fox,  a  weasel,  a  couple  of  stoats,  a  couple  of  ferrets,  and  half 
a  dozen  dogs,  in  which  motley  company  she  took  considerable 
pride,  and,  what  is  more,  handled  several  of  its  vicious  members 
with  exemplary  skill.  Upon  leaving  these  animals  she  accom- 
panied me  to  the  stables,  where  Martin  was  discovered  sulky 
of  aspect,  and  impotently  grumbling  under  his  breath.  Joe 
looked  very  handsome  now  the  mire  was  brushed  from  his  glossy 
coat,  and  Mistress  Dorothy's  eyes  glowed  at  sight  of  him. 

"  Master  Armstrong,"  she  said  enthusiastically,  "  what  a 
splendid  fellow  he  is  !  How  smart  he  looks !  and  whoever  saw 
such  fine  legs  and  such  a  depth  of  chest?  And  I  say,  sir,  he 
is  the  very  shape  of  a  jumper.  Wouldst  be  so  kind  as  to  allow 
me  to  put  him  at  that  fence  ?  " 


84  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

I  looked  at  the  fence  in  question,  and  it  was  of  such  height 
that  I  should  have  been  chary  myself  of  asking  him  to  leap  it. 
Yet  how  could  I  say  her  nay  ?  How  could  I  resist  the  eager 
anticipation  painted  on  her  face  ? 

"  You  are  at  liberty  tp  try  him  at  it,  mistress/'  said  I ;  "  but 
I  must  admit  I  have  some  trepidation  for  your  safety." 

"Thank  you,  sir,"  she  answered,  delightedly  commencing  to 
adjust  her  saddle  on  him.  "  You  need  not  have  the  slightest 
fear  for  either  of  us.  I  am  quite  sure  he  will  clear  it  like  a  bird, 
though  I  have  not  yet  got  any  of  ours  over  it,  and  Tilly  nearly 
broke  my  neck  the  other  week.  But  I'm  certain  old  Joe's  the 
man  for  the  job — aren't  you,  my  splendid  fellow  ?  " 

This  may  have  been  very  reassuring,  yet  I  had  my  doubts 
upon  the  point. 

The  rain  had  now  ceased  falling,  and  in  a  trice  the  daring 
girl  was  in  the  saddle.  She  cantered  him  gently  to  the  far  end 
of  the  yard  to  give  him  a  good  sweep  for  the  spring.  I  felt 
more  nervous  than  I'd  like  to  own,  and  wished  the  matter  safely 
finished.  Just  then  Sir  Nicholas  joined  me,  and  though  an 
interested  spectator  he  by  no  means  shared  my  tremors. 

Presently  horse  and  rider  came  thudding  by  with  a  mighty 
clatter.  Mistress  Marvin  rode  as  .1  had  ne'er  seen  a  woman 
ride  before.  She  sate  with  extraordinary  grace  and  ease,  and 
never  gave  at  all  to  the  horse's  motion,  but  remained  firm  as  a 
rock  in  the  saddle  very  like  a  cavalryman.  However,  the  twain 
rose  nobly  at  the  critical  moment,  and  the  fence  was  cleared. 

"  Bravo  !  "  1  cried,  much  relieved  in  mind. 

Directly  afterward  they  sailed  over  from  the  other  side,  and 
clattered  down  and  joined  us. 

"  'Pon  my  soul,  I  call  that  uncommonly  well  done  !  "  ex- 
claimed the  knight. 

Mistress  Dorothy  reined  Joe  up  sharp,  slipped  off  his  back 
wilh  great  agility,  warmly  caressed  him,  sent  Martin  to  the 
house  for  sugar,  then  turned  to  us  with  a  face  of  triumph. 

"  You  have  got  to  improve  yet,  ma  petite,"  said  her  critical 
sire.  "You  inclined  that  left  shoulder  somewhat,  and  swerved 
a  little  as  you  took  the  spring.  How  many  more  times  must 
you  be  told  ?  Still,  'twas  done  very  well ;  you  may  embrace 
me." 

The  maid,  though  flushed  and  breathless  with  exertion,  was 
wonderous  quick  to  seize  this  opportunity,  and  kissed  him  ; 
and,  what  is  more,  unquestionably  thought  the  act  a  luxury. 

Host  and  hostess  pressed  me  to  stay  to  dinner,  which  invita- 
tion I  declined.  Yet  so  deeply  had  our  game  of  piquet  entered 


THE  SOCIETY  OF  EDWARD  ARMSTRONG.  85 

into  the  knight's  mind,  that  he  earnestly  hoped  I  would  pay 
another  visit  that  same  evening,  which  I  readily  promised 
to  do. 

'Twas  within  a  few  minutes  of  noon  that  I  started  for  the 
King's  Head,  Bridgwater. 

My  spirit,  lately  so  jaded,  rose  again,  the  herbage  seemed 
greener,  the  air  purer  ;  and  all  nature  more  lovely  to  my  gaze 
than  it  had  appeared  for  many  a  month.  And  as  I  betook  my- 
self towards  that  goodly  hostel,  a  neighboring  squire  passed 
me,  and  I  knew  his  purse  was  heavy  because  it  was  market 
day.  He  was  unarmed  and  unattended,  yet  he  went  his  way 
unchallenged.  Why  was  this  ?  Surely,  kinsmen,  ye  need  no 
telling. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

IN  WHICH  WE  CONTINUE  TO  ENJOY  THE  SOCIETY  OF    EDWARD 
ARMSTRONG,  GENTLEMAN. 

THERE  is  a  cheerful  hostelry  at  Bridgwater,  a  house  of  genial 
entertainment,  which  hath  the  sign  of  the  King's  Head  swing- 
ing above  the  doorpost.  To  this  day  it  is  a  place  where  a  man 
may  be  boarded  and  bedded  with  the  best,  but  it  can  in  nowise 
compare  with  its  own  beneficence  in  a  bygone  time,  when  Master 
Peter  Whipple  was  host  and  landlord.  During  the  period  of 
my  outlawry  this  hostelry  was  generally  my  abode,  whence  I 
would  return  each  night,  upon  the  transaction  of  the  infamous 
business  of  the  day. 

In  '88,  which  is  the  time  I  speak  of,  by  sheer  force  of  my 
genius  for  evil,  my  trade  had  become  a  flourishing  concern  ; 
whilst  I  myself,  to  take  a  merely  mercantile  view  of  things,  had 
become  prosperous,  opulent,  and  easy.  I  had  attained  the  top- 
most pinnacle  of  my  fame.  It  stretched  the  length  and  breadth 
of  Somerset,  whilst  in  a  fair  portion  of  Devon  and  Wiltshire  my 
name  and  deeds  blanched  stout  men's  cheeks,  and  were  the 
marvel  of  every  household.  Reputation  standing  thus  so  very 
high,  folks  dared  not  deny  Black  Ned,  but  surrendered  their 
purses  to  him  at  the  first  demand.  To  be  sure,  the  grace  of  the 
compliance  was  not  always  of  the  best ;  but  argument  was  rarely 
used,  whilst  violence  was  ne'er  so  much  as  thought  of.  There- 
fore pistols  (the  delight  of  plebeian  villains)  were  seldom 
exhibited. 

Now  I  can  only  account  for  this  docility  in  my  shorn  lambs 


86  MfSTKESS  DORO THY  MAR  VIN. 

on  the  assumption  that  they  one  and  all  possessed  an  obliging 
disposition  ;  also  because  (as  it  seems  to  me)  that,  as  mankind 
hath  it  upon  high  authority  that  "  discretion  is  the  best  part  of 
valor,"  my  conscientious  victims  felt  it  their  bounden  duty  to 
act  according  to  the  text. 

As  for  sheriff's  men,  so  often  had  they  been  dodged,  tricked, 
bamboozled,  or  led  into  an  awkward  pickle,  that  they  became  a 
laughing-stock  for  half  the  West,  and  thus  were  rightly  glad, 
after  a  lapse  of  time,  to  relinquish  a  fruitless  quest.  'Twill 
thus  be  seen  I  went  unmolested,  save  when  some  exploit  more 
impudent  than  the  common  run  came  to  the  ears  of  justice. 
Then  half  the  magistrates  in  the  shire  would  meet  the  sheriff  at 
dinner,  and  suggest  what  should  be  done  in  the  matter.  Fine 
words  would  be  uttered,  good  wine  would  be  drunk,  and  the  sheriff 
would  issue  a  proclamation.  And  'twixt  the  plenishing  of  the 
cups  they'd  all  agree  that  Black  Ned  was  a  base,  bad  rogue,  who 
must  have  his  wings  clipped,  and  that  it  was  somebody's  duty 
to  set  about  and  clip  them.  And  they'd  further  agree  that  it 
was  perfectly  plain  to  the  civilized  world  that  they  should  have 
been  clipped  before,  and  that  somebody  was  to  blame  (who  they 
couldn't  precisely  say,  but  certainly  nobody  present),  because 
the  job  was  still  undone.  They  would  then  wind  up  by  drink- 
ing His  Majesty's  health — God  bless  him  ! — by  going  home 
tipsy,  and  by  debiting  His  Majesty's  Government  ten  guineas 
for  justiciary  expenses.  For  a  brief  while  afterwards  a  brave 
effort  would  be  made  to  arrest  the  rogue  aforesaid,  though  in  a 
fortnight,  at  farthest,  this  lukewarm  energy  would  become  quite 
cool,  and  Master  Ned,  utterly  oblivious  of  the  law's  long  arm, 
would  continue  to  walk  any  way  he  listed.  Accordingly,  I 
might  sit  under  a  weatherproof  thatch  of  an  evening,  and  enjoy 
a  supper,  a  black  jack,  and  a  pipe  as  comfortably  as  the 
smuggest  go-to-meeting  burgher.  But  at  best  it  was  a  hap- 
hazard life ;  when  all  good  instincts  were  rudely  stifled  ;  when 
life  was  accounted  a  little  thing;  when  the  devil  was  blindly 
served  ;  and  when  the  vague  hereafter  lacked  any  consideration 
whatsoever. 

Mid-day  had  passed  an  hour,  when  Joe  carried  me  into  the 
inn  yard  of  the  King's  Head.  The  faithful  animal  was  quickly 
fixed  in  the  stall  which  was  always  kept  at  his  disposal,  and 
then  I  betook  myself  to  the  snuggest  little  parlor  ever  conjured 
by  the  fancy  of  a  weary  man.  I  found  a  solitary  individual 
within,  ensconced  in  an  armchair,  busy  upon  the  reckoning  of 
a  customer. 

A  queer  fellow  was  this,  not  much  above  a  yard  in  height, 


THE  SOCIETY  OF  EDWARD  ARMSTRONG.  87 

with  a  couple  of  slits  for  eye-holes,  through  which  peeped  a  pair 
of  bead-like  orbs.  A  stubbly  chin  and  a  fat  person  most  folks 
would  notice,  yet  more  particularly  the  latter  feature  ;  for  if  you 
took  the  girth  and  then  the  length  of  him,  the  difference  would 
be  scarce  perceptible. 

This  was  Peter  Whipple,  who  had  a  larger  brain  than  any 
three  men  of  my  acquaintance.  Mine  host  peered  upwards 
from  the  bill.  Quoth  he — 

"  Ods  bodkins  !  'tis  mine  old  friend,  Ned,  and  with  an  empty 
belly,  I  ween."  He  puckered  his  ratty  eyes  till  scarce  aught 
was  left  of  them,  and  indulged  an  ugly  grin  by  way  of  kindly 
greeting.  "  What  would  accord  with  thy  appetite,  lad  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Methinks  I  sniffed  a  hot  venison  pasty  nigh  at  hand,"  said 
I  ;  "that  and  a  jug  of  malt  liquor  would  fit  my  palate  nicely." 

"  Thou  hast  but  to  name  the  dish,  and  it  shall  be  set  before 
thee,"  was  his  cheerful  answer.  "  Brains  before  brawn,  say  I ; 
so,  Ned,  lad,  those  heavy-limbed  bumpkins  i'  the  other  room 
may  wait  awhile." 

And  wait  they  had  to  do;  nor  was  their  meal  relished  the  less 
by  me  because  my  stomach  was  comforted  thereby  instead  of 
their  own  capacious  paunches. 

Master  Whipple  had  flow  of  speech  sufficient  for  a  dozen 
men  or  half  a  dozen  women.  Thus  I  was  extensively  regaled 
with  conversation,  whilst  I  dined  excellently  well,  yet  only 
three-fourihs  of  my  meal  had  reached  its  rightful  destination, 
when  a  raw-boned  farmer  strode  into  the  room,  and  one  look 
showed  his  brow  was  black  and  his  dudgeon  high. 

"  How  now,  landlord  !  How  much  longer  have  friend  Job- 
son  and  I  to  wait  for  our  dinners  ?  If  this  is  the  way  you  treat 
your  guests,  methinks  it  is  a  crying  shame,  sir ;  and  I,  for  one, 
will  not  brook  it !  " 

He  was  evidently  a  well-to-do  fellow,  with  a  liberal  idea  of 
his  own  importance,  to  judge  by  his  tone  and  demeanor.  Mas- 
ter Whipple  let  few  things  escape  him,  and  once  having  learned 
a  fact,  he  seldom  failed  to  turn  it  to  the  best  advantage. 

"  Just  one  moment,  your  worship,  I  beg,"  replied  Pete,  in  a 
voice  of  obsequious  humility.  "  Well  knowing  your  honor's 
quality,  I  gave  my  rascally  cook  fully  to  understand  that  you 
would  not  abide  ill-cooked  victuals,  and  that  it  most  certainly 
behoved  him  to  give  his  very  best  attention  lo  the  venison 
pasty.  But,  sink  me  !  the  careless  jackanapes  must  needs  let 
it  burn,  doubtless  because  he  was  told  to  be  so  careful.  'Pon 
my  word,  your  worship,  I'd  sooner  go  to  perdition  than  set  such 
scurvy  fare  before  one  of  your  station.  I'  faith,  one  corner's 


88  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

nigh  burnt  to  a  cinder.  However,  the  varlet  is  cooking  an- 
other, and  I  do  hope,  good  sir,  you  will  this  time  forgive  him. 
And  if  your  honor  be  so  pleasantly  minded,  ye  shall  not  lack 
for  compensation  neither.  Now,  I  am  aware  your  cellar  is  of 
the  best,  yet  I'll  wager  it  hath  no  such  wine  betwixt  its  walls  as 
I  can  put  before  you.  Blister  me,  there  is  none  to  hold  a  candle 
to  it  throughout  the  county  !  'Deed,  I  can  truthfully  say  it 
stands  unsurpassed  over  the  length  and  breadth  of  England, 
save  and  except  for  that  small,  that  very  small,  quantity  His 
Gracious  Majesty  hath  in  his  cellars  at  Whitehall.  When  the 
Bishop  of  Wells,  t'other  week,  clapped  his  lips  to  the  least  drop 
of  my  glorious  Tokay,  so  much  was  he  smitten  with  its  luscious, 
generous  qualities,  that  he  ordered  a  butt  of  it,  forthwith,  vow- 
ing that  never  since  he  was  born  had  he  tasted  such  heavenly 
grape-juice. 

"Now,  I  am  a  godfearing  man,  as  the  world  doth  full  well 
know,  and  the  saints  forefend  that  I  should  cast  disparagement 
upon  so  pious  a  prelate  ;  yet,  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  I  laughed 
out  loud,  your  worship — yea,  I  laughed  out  loud,  when  his  rev- 
erence gave  that  order.  Such  is  the  beauty  of  this  rarest  of 
vi.nts  that,  were  the  Pope  of  Rome  to  drop  down  on  his  knees 
for  one  bottle  only,  he'd  go  wanting.  Yet,  your  honor  having 
been  so  sadly  neglected,  I  will  e'en  undertake  that  you  and 
your  friend  shall  each  have  a  taste  of  it ;  nor  shall  the  charge 
be  excessive.  Your  delicate  palates  will  ne'er  forget  the  smack 
of  it,  I'll  warrant." 

Master  Peter  was  the  glibbest  liar  I  ever  heard.  Besides,  his 
untruths  were  so  highly  colored  and  so  deftly  clothed  with  veri- 
similitude, that  it  mostly  needed  a  very  keen  discrimination  to 
sort  the  fact  from  the  figment.  Now  Pete's  elaborate  lie  was 
palmed  upon  the  unwary  yeoman  with  such  an  attitude  of  studied 
deference,  with  such  a  deep  politeness  (acquired  by  long  resi- 
dence in  London),  and  with  such  a  circumstantial  wealth  of  detail, 
that  the  honest  man  was  quite  staggered,  and  straightway  for- 
got his  wrongs,  and  even  began  to  make  excuses  for  his  own 
uncivil  behavior. 

And  all  the  time  that  self-same  pasty  stuck  in  my  throat ; 
and  so  immensely  tickled  was  I  at  mine  host's  methods,  that  I 
nearly  choked  myself  in  trying  to  suppress  my  laughter. 
Touching  another  circumstance,  whoever  caused  Master  Whipple 
to  modify  his  tone,  as  of  late  he  had  to  do,  would  surely  have 
to  pay  a  pretty  price  for  the  same  when  it  came  to  the  settling 
of  the  bill.  Humility  had  to  be  bought  from  him  like  more 
toothsome  commodities. 


THE  SOCIETY  OF  EDWARD  ARMSTRONG.  89 

"  I  hope  you  will  not  forget  that  wine,  landlord,"  said  the 
farmer,  as  he  left  us  to  rejoin  his  friend  at  the  board. 

"  To  be  sure,  the  landlord  will  not  forget,"  quoth  Pete,  as 
the  door  closed  behind  him. 

"  To  charge  it  in  the  score,"  I  added,  laughing. 

"  To  the  devil  with  all  country  bumpkins,"  said  he,  flicking 
his  thumb  to  his  nose,  as  I  have  heard  is  the  most  approved 
mode  of  expressing  contempt  in  Town.  "  They  are  as  loose- 
tongued  as  dukes  if  aught  goes  amiss  ;  yet  do  but  flatter  their 
dignity,  and  so  blown  out  are  they  in  their  own  conceit  that 
they  e'en  forget  on  which  side  the  grievance  lies." 

"  Doubtless  they  will  wax  fat  on  that  famous  Tokay  of 
thine  ? "  said  I  mischievously ;  and  I  must  observe,  by  way  of 
explanation,  that  to  me  Master  Whipple's  methods  were  by  no 
means  new. 

The  innkeeper  shook  his  head  in  a  way  that  reminded  me  of 
that  sagacious  bird,  the  owl,  and  sighed  the  most  comical  sigh 
I  ever  listened  to. 

"My  friend,"  said  he,  in  his  driest  manner,  "  It  will  be  duly 
paid  for  in  the  bill.  The  pleasures  of  this  life  are  in  anticipa- 
tion, and  not  in  realization.  The  fee  for  this  noble  wine  will 
be  fetched  from  out  their  fobs,  and  having  been  paid  for,  who 
shall  say  they  have  not  had  it  ?  D'ye  see,  it  matters  not  to 
their  great  gullets  (neither  can  they  mark  the  difference)  be- 
twixt the  truest  Hainault  vintage,  and  the  washiest  stuff  that 
ever  came  from  over  the  water.  Enough  of  such  senseless 
wights.  Let  us  return  to  Long  Bob  Bickers.  He  was  a  man, 
if  ever  one  walked  on  this  earth.  Such  days  will  ne'er  be  seen 
again,  as  when  he  did  these  roads."  And  then,  as  his  custom 
was  when  he  dwelt  upon  this  immortal  though  melancholy 
topic,  his  feelings  overcame  him,  and  tears  sped  quickly  down 
his  cheek. 

"  I  recollect  one  shrewd  trick  of  his,"  he  resumed,  striving 
like  a  man  against  this  weakness.  "  He'd  come  in  here  of  a 
market  day,  such  as  this  is,  and  bold  as  you  please  would  walk 
into  the  parlor.  He'd  find  the  squires  and  farmers  there,  a 
chatting  about  the  price  of  bullocks,  the  prospect  of  the  crops, 
and  such  like.  And  as  they  sate  a-puffing  at  their  pipes,  and 
a  pulling  at  their  liquor,  he'd  make  'ern  his  very  best  bow,  whip 
out  his  barkers,  and  with  his  noted  economy  of  words  would 
say,  'Gentlemen,  your  purses.5  Then  they,  stuck  as  their  own 
porkers,  would  shut  their  mouths,  open  their  fobs,  and  just 
cough  up  the  bullion  !  '  Come,  landlord,'  he'd  say,  '  I  show 
no  favor.'  So  out  would  come  mine  as  well.  Yet,  mark  you 


9° 


MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 


this  most  carefully,  mine  old  dogskin  would  find  its  way  back 
to  my  breeches  pocket  the  very  next  day,  with  five  more 
guineas  therein  than  ever  it  went  away  with.  Here's  peace  to 
thy  soul,  Bob  Bickers,  may  thy  heart  rest  easy  !  " 

Thereupon  mine  host  raised  his  cup,  pledged  Long  Bob's 
health,  and  drowned  his  woe  in  a  draught  of  cider.  Having 
swallowed  his  melancholy  with  his  own  toast,  quoth  he  again, 
with  a  queer  look — 

"  Ned,  the  front  parlor  is  full  of  pursy  yeomen.  Now  I 
hope  thou  hast  not  already  forgotten  what  I  have  just  told 
thee." 

Seeing  I  had  no  mind  to  imitate  the  example  of  the  illustrious 
Long  Bob,  Master  Whipple  looked  grave,  and  forthwith  im- 
parted one  of  his  favorite  pieces  of  information  ;  to  wit,  that 
Squire  Pocock  of  Athelney  had  started  on  the  homeward  jour- 
ney scarce  an  hour  agone,  with  a  goodly  number  of  gold  pieces 
upon  his  person.  Neither  did  this  rouse  me  to  action,  where- 
upon Master  Peter  made  inquiry  as  to  the  cause  of  such  inac- 
tivity. 

"Young  man,"  said  he,  "it  appears  to  me  thou  art  surely 
neglecting  business.  Why  is  this  ?" 

*'  Can't  I  take  a  holiday,  then,  without  asking  your  permis- 
sion ?"  I  answered  in  an  injured  tone,  that  he  might  quit:  the 
subject.  To  tell  the  truth  (as  in  honor  bound  1  must),  the 
precise  reason  was,  that  for  that  day  at  least  I  had  no 
stomach  for  my  calling.  Now  you  are  to  plainly  understand, 
Black  Ned  was  still  an  absentee.  It  was  Master  Edward 
Armstrong,  the  man  who  had  met  that  self-same  morning  a 
young  maiden,  fair  to  the  eye,  and  delicious  to  the  recollection, 
bearing  the  name  of  Mistress  Dorothy  Marvin,  who  had  just 
eaten  his  midday  meal  at  the  King's  Head,  and  who  thus  con- 
fronted Peter  Whipple.  How  could  this  gentleman  of  lineage 
think  of  any  such  rascally  proceeding  as  highway  robbery,  es- 
pecially as  the  events  of  that  self-same  day  were  still  piping 
hot  in  his  brain?  Moreover,  this  worthy  fellow  did  not  by  any 
means  forget  that  evening,  about  the  hour  of  sunset,  to  don  his 
choicest  suit  and  his  silver-buckled  shoon.  Also,  by  the  aid 
of  fair  words  and  a  guinea,  he  borrowed,  for  one  night  only, 
Master  Whipple's  church-going  tie-wig ;  though  he  had  greatly- 
preferred  a  periwig.  But  a  decent  one  was  not  to  be  gotten  at 
so  short  a  notice,  except  of  a  very  uncouth,  provincial  style; 
while  his  host  (though  a  London  man)  declared  in  all  his  life 
he  had  ne'er  paid  a  penny  for  such  a  pretentious  article,  be- 
cause, as  he  said  in  his  meekest  manner,  "he  was  too  modest, 


THE  SOCIETY  OF  EDWARD  ARMSTRONG.  91 

and  too  deeply  sensible  of  his  own  unworthiness  to  ever  think 
of  strutting  to  church  in  a  peruke." 

With  the  coming  of  darkness  I  stepped  forth  on  foot  to  the 
manor,  for  I  thought  it  unlikely  that  any  one  would  recognize 
the  highwayman  in  the  darkness ;  neither  was  it  probable  that 
he  would  have  been  molested,  had  such  a  contingency  arisen. 
The  night  was  as  sloppy  as  ever  the  day  had  been,  and  miser- 
ably cold  withal.  Yet  naught  was  heeded  in  the  elements,  for 
being  well  and  warmly  cloaked,  I  set  my  best  leg  foremost, 
careless  of  wind  and  water. 

The  kindest  of  welcomes  awaited  me.  Maybe  it  was  over- 
pride  of  my  smart  habiliments,  yet  I  most  positively  assured 
myself  that  father  and  daughter  regarded  me  with  pleased  sur- 
prise. And,  without  boast,  I  appeared  a  very  comely  young 
man.  The  old  knight  and  I  zestfully  played  piquet  (at  least 
he  did,  and  I  made  great  show  of  interest)  ;  and  Mistress 
Dorothy,  instead  of  being  busy  with  her  needle,  as  I  believe 
young  girls  should  be  in  their  leisure,  worked  hard  and  perse- 
veringly  at  a  fishing-net. 

"  Great  sport  this  afternoon,  Master  Armstrong  !  "  she  cried, 
with  the  glow  of  the  enthusiast.  "  I  landed  three  eels,  half  a 
dozen  perch  and  bream,  also  a  pike,  and  that  pike  was  nine 
pounds  six,  sir !  " 

"  No  lies,"  the  knight  inserted.  "  'Twas  not  an  ounce  be- 
yond six  pounds." 

"  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin,"  fired  back  his  daughter,  "you  are  no 
fisherman.  Stick  to  the  sword,  sir — you  can  fight,  but  you 
can't  fish." 

Well,  we  played  piquet,  did  the  knight  and  I,  and  he  was 
very  happy  during  the  course  of  it.  He  won,  you  must  under- 
stand, and  if  a  winning  game  gives  no  pleasure,  then  indeed  it 
must  be  a  singularly  poor  one.  And  was  I  also  happy?  To 
be  sure  I  was  ;  but  mind,  in  a  game  of  a  wholly  different  nature. 
Part  of  my  game  consisted  in  glancing  often  (that  is,  as  many 
times  as  delicacy  would  permit)  towards  nimble  fingers,  on  a 
beauteous  hand,  on  a  lovely  arm,  on  a  delightful  form  ! 

By  and  by  Sir  Nicholas  fell  a-nodding,  and  no  wonder,  for 
the  punch  bowl  demanded  his  attention  many  times.  Had 
Master  Edward  Armstrong,  aged  twenty-four,  been  as  well  con- 
ducted as  you  and  I  had  thought  him,  he  must,  without  a  shade 
of  doubt,  at  once  have  bidden  host  and  hostess  a  prompt  good- 
night; for,  as  we  are  all  of  us  aware,  he  had  been  invited  to 
play  piquet,  and  for  nought  else  whatsoever. 

And  why  did  he  not  act  thus  ?     Wei!,  the  rain  beat  hard  on 


92  MISTRESS  DORO  THY  MA R  VI N. 

the  window  panes,  the  wind  howled  dismally,  no  moon  was 
visible  midst  the  wrack  of  rain-cloud,  and  verily  the  night  was 
black  as  pitch.  And  the  fire  emitted  a  welcome  glow,  all  was 
cheerfulness  and  comfort  within  those  four  walls,  and,  further- 
more, even  the  knight's  slumbering  resonance  was  in  harmony. 
1  warrant  this  is  some  excuse,  if  not  quite  sufficing  for  your 
prudishness. 

Now,  with  his  opponent  asleep,  what  kinder  occupation  could 
this  young  man  find  than  to  talk  sociably  to  the  even  younger 
maiden  close  beside  him  ?  Come  !  high-principled  people  (for, 
children,  you  have  long  since  grown  tall  enough  to  talk  of 
"principle,"  "example,"  etcetera),  your  niceness  cannot  surely 
suggest  anything  very  wrong  in  what  I  am  now  unfolding. 
Therefore  Mistress  Marvin  and  I  held  converse  with  one 
another — friendly,  amiable  converse ;  and  the  maid  was  young 
and  very  beautiful ;  and  I  ! — ah,  what  was  I ! — a  fugitive,  an  out- 
la.w,  and  a  thief  ! 

I  learned  many  things  that  night,  some  of  which  lend  a  per- 
tinent bearing  towards  this  history.  The  knight  was  a  soldier 
to  the  backbone,  one  who  had  lustily  struck  for  the  ill-fated 
monarch  Charles  the  First,  and  afterwards  for  his  son, — the 
second  Charles.  But  after  paralyzing  his  patrimony  for  their 
behoof,  he  was  compelled  to  flee  to  foreign  lands,  where  the 
fear  of  high-crowned  hats  and  plaguy  hymnals  ceased  to  haunt 
him. 

With  good  courage  and  a  lean  purse,  what  more  likely  than 
this  unfortunate  scion  of  noble  family  should  look  to  the  sword 
as  a  source  of  livelihood  ?  Therefore  he  took  service  under  the 
French  king,  Louis  XIV.,  and  participated  in  many  actions  on 
his  behalf,  and  his  valor  and  stainless  honor  won  him  advance- 
ment in  the  army  of  France. 

Somewhat  late  in  life  he  wedded  a  French  lady  of  high  birth, 
and  a  disciple  of  the  Roman  Church.  Their  married  life  was 
not  of  long  duration,  for  within  a  year  she  died  in  child-bed, 
and  thus  Dorothy  ne'er  knew  a  mother's  love. 

Until  Sir  Nicholas  returned  to  his  native  land,  with  coffers 
well  replenished  (for  his  wife  had  left  him  goodly  means),  his 
only  child  passed  some  years  in  a  convent.  The  knight  had 
now  been  four  years  at  the  manor,  the  home  of  his  childhood, 
and  his  daughter  had  crossed  the  water  with  him.  This  much  I 
gleaned  from  Mistress  Marvin's  lips  that  night,  and  it  amused 
me,  when  she  came  to  tell  me  about  the  convent,  to  see  her  give 
a  shudder  of  disgust. 

The  hour  was  late  ere  I  crossed  the  outer  threshold  into  the 


7 HE  SOCIETY  OF  EDWARD  ARMSTRONG.  93 

uninviting  night.  However,  before  I  had  wrapped  my  cloak 
around  me,  previous  to  departing,  the  sleepy  knight  awoke  him- 
self, thanks  to  an  overplus  of  snoring,  and  bid  me  come  the 
next  evening  to  play  him  again,  and  to  this  invitation  I  made 
no  demur,  but  accepted  it  readily. 

It  was  an  evening  unfit  for  a  dog  to  be  abroad  in,  yet  the 
journey  to  the  King's  Head  seemed  of  the  shortest,  though  at 
ordinary  times  it  is  a  lengthy  step.  Once,  by  misadventure,  I 
walked  into  a  ditch  beside  the  roadway,  but  swore  not  at  this 
mishap,  e'en  though  I  felt  the  muddy  water  penetrate  my  stock- 
ings. The  reason  of  this  forbearance  was  not  far  to  seek ;  it 
simply  went  unheeded,  inasmuch  that  dancing  before  me  in  the 
gloom  was  the  phantasy  of  a  maid  with  wondrous  eyes. 

It  was  a  wakeful  time,  was  my  sojourn  in  bed  that  night. 
Still  it  was  a  pleasing  insomnolence.  Nought  could  drive  an 
entrancing  vision  from  mine  head. 

According  to  promise,  I  paid  another  visit  to  Kelston  Manor 
the  following  night,  and  the  reception  accorded  me  was  equally 
as  hearty  as  those  I  had  at  other  times  received.  'Twas  evident 
I  by  no  means  abused  my  welcome,  for  Sir  Nicholas  proposed 
that  I  should  come  and  play  with  him  every  week-day  evening 
when  it  was  possible  for  me  to  do  so.  And  I  in  my  folly  had  no 
more  sense  or  foresight  than  to  accede  to  this  request.  One 
night,  during  the  first  week,  an  incident  befell  that  unsteadied 
my  nerves,  and  for  the  instant  seemed  both  dangerous  and  irk- 
some. In  the  course  of  our  usual  game,  Sir  Nicholas  gave  me 
a  shrewd  look  and  said — 

"  Mon  ami,  if  I  did  not  know  you  to  be  an  Armstrong,  I 
should  take  you  to  be  own  brother  to  Black  Ned  the  highway- 
man." 

At  that  moment,  by  a  singular  mischance,  a  coin  fell  and 
rolled  under  the  table,  and  without  waiting  to  reply  I  dived  be- 
low in  quest  of  it.  A  very  stubborn  coin  it  was,  and  it  took  some 
little  time  to  find.  And  where  do  you  think  it  was  discovered, 
kinsmen  ?  Under  Master  Armstrong's  foot ! 

Upon  returning  to  my  seat,  a  laugh  greeted  me  from  Mistress 
Dorothy. 

"  On  my  word  !  "  she  said  gayly,  "  art  not  very  proud,  sir  ? 
Sir  Nicholas  doth  flatter  you  by  his  comparison.  My  compli- 
ments to  Master  Armstrong  on  the  achievement  of  his  early 
fame.  Black  Ned  shall  be  his  name  in  future." 

Fortunately  I  had  the  sense  to  laugh  at  her  sally,  and  the 
matter  passed  away  without  assuming  a  more  formidable  shape 
than  one  of  banter. 


94 


MJSTKESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 


A  week  passed  quickly.  Every  evening  at  sundown  I  failed 
not  to  appear  at  the  manor  to  gamble  with  the  knight,  and 
afterwards  to  talk  with  that  delightful  maid,  his  daughter. 
These  conversations  commenced  when  the  knight  dropped  off 
to  sleep,  and  as  a  general  rule  he  surrendered  to  seductive 
Morpheus  somewhere  about  the  eighth  serving  of  brandy 
punch  ;  and  I  may  also  add,  to  accommodate  the  curious,  that 
my  losses  at  the  card-table,  during  those  first  six  days,  amounted 
to  the  sum  of  thirty  guineas. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

HIGH  TREASON. 

I  NOW  come  to  such  a  startling  phase  in  my  narrative,  that  it 
behoves  me  to  set  it  forth  with  due  particularity,  because,  as 
you  are  to  learn,  it  made  an  abiding  impression  upon  my  mind, 
and  at  the  same  time  swayed  my  fortunes  in  a  highly  remark- 
able manner. 

However,  it  will  previously  be  necessary  to  indicate  the  pre- 
cise relations  existing  at  the  time  betwixt  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin, 
his  daughter,  and  myself. 

Another  week  quickly  sped,  and,  faithful  to  my  word,  I  visited 
the  manor  each  evening,  Sunday  excepted,  for  the  knight's 
edification  and  mine  own.  Nay,  I  even  exceeded  this  arrange- 
ment, as  on  several  occasions  I  found  myself  there  in  the 
middle  of  the  day.  The  cause  of  this  should  be  all  too  obvious, 
for  just  as  I  was  always  happy  when  within  sight  of  Mistress 
Marvin,  I  was  rarely  contented  when  I  lacked  the  solace  of  her 
company.  Fortune  aided  me  in  many  ways.  Sir  Nicholas 
ne'er  mixed  in  society  of  any  kind,  and  seldom  received  a  visit 
from  anybody,  for  he  maintained  a  most  uncompromising  atti- 
tude towards  the  neighboring  county  families,  and  they,  I  sus- 
pect largely  on  account  of  his  uncouth  habits,  were  at  daggers 
drawn  with  him.  As  for  Dorothy,  she  had  no  friends  or  kins- 
folk this  side  the  water,  and  as  her  father's  quarrel  was  always 
her  quarrel  also,  this  staunch  daughter,  as  she  herself  once  told 
me,  would  rather  have  forfeited  her  tongue  than  she  would  have 
made  the  least  concession  toward  the  county  folk.  This  all  re- 
acted to  my  advantage.  For  one  thing  the  knight  and  the 
maid  ne'er  had  any  one  to  enlighten  them  as  to  whom  I  really 


HIGH  TREASON. 


95 


was ;  and  again,  the  friendless  Dorothy,  to  my  inexpressible 
delight,  from  the  outset  evinced  considerable  pleasure  in  my 
company,  which  pleasure  she  showed  in  a  thousand  little  ways. 
Her  nature  was  as  frank,  free,  and  simple  as  her  speech.  She 
suspected  nothing ;  on  the  contrary,  she  made  no  secret  that 
she  found  me  a  companion  much  after  her  own  heart,  and  in 
her  open  way  treated  me  as  such.  In  fact,  so  little  was  her 
warm,  eager,  affectionate  nature  smothered  and  degraded  by 
the  polite  imbecilities  that  nowadays  constitute  half  the  outfit 
of  aristocratic  misses,  that  she  looked  on  me  as  a  sort  of  boon 
companion,  and  in  confidential  moments  allowed  me  to  share 
many  secrets  of  her  heart  and  mind. 

Her  father,  the  most  terrible  of  tyrants  in  any  matter  touch- 
ing personal  comfort,  like  the  rest  of  the  brethren  of  the  selfish 
tribe,  had  no  such  compunction  for  other  people.  Yet  he  was 
certainly  not  unaware  of  my  constant  companionship  with  his 
young  daughter.  But  he  placed  no  restriction  on  either  of  us. 
To  him  I  was  simply  a  country  gentleman,  well  born,  well 
mannered,  and  of  abundant  leisure;  and  he  summed  up  his 
own  sentiments  on  the  subject  far  more  pointedly  than  I  can 
hope  to  do  when  he  said,  "  My  lad,  y'are'an  Armstrong ;  that  is 
enough  for  me  !  "  And  so  he  ne'er  gave  the  matter  another 
thought,  but  just  sat  in  his  chair  gambling,  swearing,  and  bib- 
bing unlimited  brandy  punch. 

Day  by  day  the  young  lady  proved  a  fuller  source  of  delight 
to  me.  Methought  her  a  fearless,  high-spirited,  passionate  girl, 
tingling  with  life  and  laughter.  Some  might  have  said  she  was 
a  trifle  rompish  and  coquettish,  perhaps  she  was,  tho'  I'll  ne'er 
be  made  to  say  so.  And  once  for  all  I  counsel  you,  do  not  take 
my  judgment  as  infallible,  the  bare  remembrance  of  Mistress 
Marvin  in  the  flesh  hath  much  corrupted  it,  and  'twill  be  no 
surprise  to  me,  should  I,  ere  I've  done,  write  her  down  divinity, 
What  I  will  say  is,  she  adored  her  unlovely  father  ;  and  was 
always  invested  with  the  wild  charm  of  being  never  in  repose. 
One  moment  she  was  perhaps  sad,  then  coy,  then  romantic,  then 
playful,  then  gay,  then  satirical,  then  genuinely  affectionate ; 
yet,  whichever  mood  she  might  be  in,  she  ne'er  retained  it  two 
whole  minutes.  And  if  ever  I  was  tempted  to  think  her  in- 
capable of  depth  of  thought  or  feeling,  I  had  only  to  notice  the 
unwearied  attentions,  and  the  boundless  respect  and  reverence 
she  never  ceased  to  pay  her  ungrateful  parent,  to  give  me  the 
lie  direct.  'Twas  here  the  divining-rod  of  observation  struck 
the  first  inexplicable  problem  in  her  character;  and  if  this  was 
not  in  itself  enough  to  puzzle  me,  I  had  only  to  observe  her 


g6  M/STXESS  DOKOTHY  MARVIN. 

firm  mouth,  and  the  subtle  prominence  of  her  chin,  to  feel  that 
great  unknown  qualities  lurked  behind  her  blithe-hearted  every- 
day demeanor. 

With  these  preliminaries,  I  will  now  relate  those  passages 
between  this  lady  and  myself  that  revealed  some  of  these  hidden 
qualities,  and  which  caused  me  to  temper  admiration  with 
respect,  and  at  the  same  time  gave  me  much  disquietude,  and 
many  sleepless  nights.  I  have  carefully  searched  my  memo- 
randa for  the  day  I  first  heard  of  the  singular  business  that 
preyed  on  my  mind  for  weeks  and  months  and  finally  altered 
the  whole  tenor  of  my  life.  Still,  despite  my  efforts,  they  have 
been  in  vain.  I  cannot  fix  the  exact  date  with  any  degree  of 
accuracy,  though  to  the  best  of  my  recollection  'twas  towards 
the  latter  end  of  March  or  the  beginning  of  April,  the  year  of 
grace  1688. 

The  sitting-room  clock  had  just  chimed  the  half-hour  after 
ten  one  evening  at  the  manor,  and  Sir  Nicholas  according  to 
established  custom  had  once  more  exchanged  the  wiles  of  liquor 
for  the  wiles  of  sleep,  when  his  daughter  said  in  that  tone  half- 
serious,  half  raillery  she  could  so  readily  assume — 

"  I  believe,  Master  Ned,  you  are  an  admirer  of  nature  ? " 

"  You  surprise  me,  mistress,"  said  I ;  "  I  was  not  aware  of 
that.  Though  I  will  never  deny,"  I  added,  with  a  significant 
look  toward  my  fair  companion,  "  I  have  great  admiration  for 
certain  specimens  of  human  nature." 

"Tush!  I  cannot  pretend  to  understand  you,  sir.  But  'tis 
a  full  moon  to-night,  and  the  stream  and  woodland  look  just 
lovely.  You  must  come  with  me  and  see  it ; "  and  without 
waiting  for  my  reply  she  rose  immediately,  donned  her  cloak  and 
hat,  and  half-playfully,  half-commandingly,  bade  me  follow  her. 
Though  certainly  not  reluctant  in  my  obedience,  I  was  surprised 
at  this,  because  it  was  contrary  to  our  habitude,  and  I  had  not 
credited  her  with  poetic  instinct  strong  enough  to  entice  her 
from  a  cosy  room  into  the  keen  night  air  at  this  time  of  the 
evening. 

The  manor  grounds  were  indeed  a  noble  sight.  The  moon 
was  gliding  through  a  mass  of  cloud,  casting  a  spectral  light  on 
fern  and  bracken,  and  on  the  winding  snakelike  waters  of  the 
stream.  The  tree-tops  in  the  spinney  were  gilded  with  a  shift- 
ing tinge  of  silver,  whilst  now  and  then  out  of  the  dark  recesses 
of  the  copse,  a  plaintive  note  issued  from  some  wary  night  bird's 
throat;  and  the  quick  play  of  the  ghastly  moonbeams  on  glade 
and  thicket  in  varying  tints  of  light  and  shade,  gave  to  the  whole 
scene  an  eerie  aspect  of  mingled  ghostliness  and  grandeur. 


HIGH  TREASON. 


97 


We  took  a  path  at  right  angles  from  the  house.  This  led  us 
across  the  grass  by  the  borders  of  the  woodland,  and  onwards 
to  the  stream.  All  the  way  I  cogitated  on  this  strange  excur- 
sion, and  turned  the  unwonted  circumstance  over  pretty  care- 
fully in  my  mind.  At  first  my  mental  animation  was  altogether 
foiled  ;  I  could  sniff  no  vestige  of  a  clue  to  the  lady's  singular 
procedure,  or  to  the  motives  underlying  it. 

"  Mistress,"  said  I,  my  scepticism  still  unshaken,  "  you  are 
strangely  silent  anent  the  beauties  of  the  landscape,  and  I  will 
make  so  bold  to  add,  strangely  unobservant." 

"  Hush,  Master  Armstrong,  hush  !  "  she  exclaimed,  one  finger 
on  her  lips.  "  The  air  breathes  the  very  spirit  of  romance.  I'm 
thinking  of  Charlemagne,  and  good  King  Rene  of  Provence ; 
of  ladies'  bowers  and  tournaments ;  of  belted  knights  and 
troubadours."  Here  she  sighed  softly  to  herself,  and  broke  off 
suddenly,  as  so  often  was  her  way,  into  a  new  strain  of  thought 
and  sentiment.  However  on  this  occasion  it  may  have  owed 
something  of  its  origin  to  her  little  rhapsody. 

"  The  Copeland  Armstrongs  are  a  fine  race,"  she  said ;  and 
then  seeing  me  perhaps  a  trifle  self-complacent,  continued  swift 
as  lightning,  a  saucy  inflection  in  her  tone  and  gesture,  "  Ah, 
Lud  !  I'm  in  error  there;  I've  stumbled  in  the  matter  of  the 
tenses.  Why  didn't  I  use  the  past  instead  of  the  present  ?  The 
Copeland  Armstrongs  were  a  fine  race  would  methinks  have 
been  more  accurate ;  so,  dear  sir,  forget  thy  bows  and  smirks, 
and  thy  vain  prideful  fribbling." 

"  I  am  grieved  for  this  emendation,  mistress,"  said  I  with 
mock  gravity. 

"  E'en  so  !  yet  men  were  wont  to  call  your  family  '  The  Fight- 
ing Armstrongs  ' ;  though  I  cannot  hear  that  the  name  runs  now 
on  the  countryside." 

"  True,  mistress,  I  fear  me  that  the  title  is  somewhat  blown 
upon  of  late  years.  Mine  uncle,  Sir  Peter,  prefers  the  pursuit 
of  gold  to  that  of  glory,  and  I — well,  I  am  a  mere  civilian." 

"  Very  soothful  too,  sir,  though,  nevertheless,  I  thank  you  for 
your  forbearance  towards  my  father  the  other  morning,"  and 
she  laughed  at  the  reminiscence. 

Next  minute  the  red  was  in  her  cheeks,  the  fire  was  in  her 
eyes. 

"  But  why  donjt  you  preserve  the  tradition  of  your  race,  sir  ?  " 
she  cried.  "  Have  your  ancestors  bequeathed  you  no  spark  of 
their  martial  nature  ?  " 

The  words  fell  from  her  lips  with  a  deep  and  clear  vibration. 
The  wild,  romantical  girl  was  upbraiding  me  ;  she  did  not  know 


98  MISTRESS  DOKOTHY  MARl'lX. 

that  I  had  paid  bitter  penalties,  and  was  paying  them  still  be- 
cause I  had  cherished  the  spirit  of  my  fathers. 

What  follows  may  have  been  a  vagary  of  chance,  or  as  I  had 
come  to  apprehend  some  subtle  motive  in  the  conduct  of  the 
maid,  it  may  have  been  a  bold  design  pushed  to  a  skilful  issue. 
Be  this  as  it  may,  her  voice  and  bearing  acted  like  a  spark 
dropped  into  the  powder  mine  that  nestled  in  my  soul.  Every 
word  thrilled  me,  the  fiery  qualities  of  my  fathers  leapt  up  from 
slumber,  and  made  reply  ere  prudence,  sense,  or  rationality, 
could  impose  a  check  upon  them. 

"  Have  no  fear,  mistress  ;  have  no  fear!  "  said  I  airily.  "  I 
am  not  so  degenerate  an  Armstrong  as  you  seem  to  think.  If 
I  do  not  fling  away  my  scabbard  and  wear  my  weapon  naked 
for  the  behoof  of  all  men,  do  not  set  too  harsh  a  name  to  my 
inactivity.  I  have  an  end  in  view — I  am  husbanding  my 
strength.  My  matchlock  is  oiled,  and  my  sword  blade  bright 
and  speckless.  I  am  waiting,  mistress  !  " 

"  Waiting  for  what,  sir  ?  " 

"  For  the  chance  of  a  heart-thrust  at  the  accursed  Stuart !  " 

There  and  then  I  knew  my  folly.  My  companion  gave  a 
smothered  exclamation,  and  placed  one  hand  upon  my  arm,  yet 
instantly  removed  it,  and  drew  herself  some  yards  apart  from 
me. 

By  this  we  had  come  to  the  rustic  wooden  bridge  that  spans 
the  stream.  We  stood  together  on  the  fragile  planks,  and  sus- 
pended as  we  were  midway,  first  gazed  at  one  another  in  irk- 
some silence,  then  at  the  flowing  waters.  'Twas  a  strange  mo- 
ment as  I  leant  on  the  rail  and  watched  the  rivulet  crisp  and 
sparkle  under  the  rays  of  moonlight ;  and  saw  the  quick  flow 
of  the  current  illumined  by  numberless  shafts  of  light,  that  leapt 
and  quivered  on  the  surface  of  the  stream  as  it  glided  'twixt 
the  vapor-shrouded  banks  and  wound  its  way  down  towards 
the  sea. 

"  Sir,"  quoth  the  maiden  in  a  voice  that  startled  me,  after  a 
pause  as  long  as  it  was  embarrassing,  "  you  have  been  impru- 
dent." 

Imprudent  !  Was  that  the  name  to  set  to  my  indiscretion  ? 
Here  had  I  confessed  treasonous  and  revolutionary  sentiments 
to  one  born  and  bred  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  whose  father,  her 
mentor  and  her  darling,  had  spent  his  fortune  and  his  blood  in 
the  service  of  the  Stuarts. 

"  Imprudent,"  I  answered,  overwhelmed  with  shame  and 
dread  of  the  consequences.  "I  have  spoken  like  a  fool." 

"That  depends  upon  your  hearers,"  she  said,  and  then  to  my 


A  PERILOUS  MISSION. 


99 


bewilderment  this  extraordinary  creature  seized  my  hand  and 
gripped  it.  I  stole  a  glance  at  her  face,  and  ne'er  can  I  forget 
its  animation  or  her  eyes  as  the  light  played  on  them,  and  set 
them  sparkling  like  lustrous  gems. 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  mistress,"  quoth  I  astounded  ; 
"  is  not  your  father  an  old  Stuart  cavalier,  and  are  you  not  a 
Roman  Catholic  ?  " 

"  J,  sir  ?     I  am  a  Whig — a  tremendous  Whig  !  " 

I  could  have  cried  aloud  with  glee,  her  ringing  tones  and 
high  enthusiasm  were  so  infectious. 

"  Master  Ned,"  she  said  excitedly,  "  if  one  word,  one  single 
word  could  save  the  House  of  Stuart,  and  'twas  left  to  me  to 
speak  that  word,  dost  know  it  should  never  come  from  lips  of 
mine  ?  And  if  a  blow  could  crush  them,  as  please  God  it  some 
day  shall,  I  would  ask  nought  better  than  that  my  arm  should 
be  the  one  to  strike  it !  " 

"  Mistress,  those  are  heartsome  words.  They  come  kinder 
to  mine  ears  than  any  since  my  father  died." 

"  He  is  dead,  then  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  murdered  by  James  Stuart  and  his  servant  Jeffreys." 

"  Tell  me  the  story." 

"  No,  no  ;  that  I  cannot  do.  There  are  certain  passages  in 
my  life's  history  that  may  never  be  told."  Thereat  I  shuddered 
to  think  on  what  terrible  ground  our  conversation  had  nearly 
led  me. 

"  Methinks,"  said  I,  attempting  to  divert  our  talk  from  the 
dangerous  channel  it  was  like  to  run  in,  "  these  words  of  ours 
might  sound  to  a  listener  uncommonly  like  high  treason." 

"  Just  so,"  returned  my  companion,  "  though  if  King  James 
doth  not  hear  something  much  more  to  his  cost,  and  very  much 
more  treasonous  ere  long,  I'm  mistaken." 

"  You  are  a  politician,  Mistress  Dorothy." 

"  Politician — rather  !  In  fact,  sir,  to  quote  the  words  of  my 
illustrious  papa,  '  I'm  the  very  devil  for  politics  ! ' ' 


CHAPTER    IX. 


A   PERILOUS   MISSION. 


KINSMEN,  you  may  be  sure  no  word  of  Mistress  Marvin's  fell 
upon  deaf  ears  ;  my  mind  was  already  worked  upon  to  a  pitch 


100  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

of  disquieting  curiosity.  Her  hints,  her  innuendoes,  her  affecta- 
tion of  secret  knowledge,  the  enthusiasm  of  her  voice,  and  the 
singularity  of  her  whole  demeanor  convinced  me  that  she  had 
either  some  startling  information  at  her  command,  else  that 
she  was  a  facile  and  highly  schooled  dissembler.  Howbeit, 
not  for  a  moment  did  I  do  her  the  injustice  of  allowing  my 
mind  to  dwell  upon  this  alternative. 

"  My  friend,"  continued  the  lady  gravely,  "  since  thou'rt  so 
reticent  in  the  matter  of  thine  own  grievances,  I  will  tell  thee 
why  Sir  Nicholas,  my  father,  is  a  Stuart  man  no  longer.  In  the 
first  Charles's  time  he  spent  his  fortune  and  much  good  blood 
in  that  monarch's  cause,  and  when  the  end  of  the  miserable 
business  came  he  went  into  exile  with  scarce  a  rag  to  his  back, 
or  a  groat  in  his  hosen.  By  and  by  the  second  Charles  was 
crowned,  and  the  Stuarts  were  once  more  affluent.  Straightway 
Sir  Nicholas  hied  back  to  his  native  land,  counting  upon  a 
handsome  recompense  for  the  many  sufferings  endured  in  his 
and  his  father's  cause.  Bitter  was  his  fate  !  Charles  Stuart, 
the  King,  forgot  the  rich  promises  of  Charles  Stuart,  the  Exile. 
Many  faithful  friends  of  the  days  of  his  adversity  were  sent 
penniless  and  heart-broken  from  Whitehall  gates.  The  King 
had  no  longer  any  use  for  them,  and  no  longer  any  care.  Ne'er 
a  silver  shilling  did  they  receive  from  him,  i'  faith  hardly  bare 
civility ;  yet  every  day  he  lavished  such  sums  upon  certain 
of  his  female  friends  as  would  have  satisfied  the  most  expectant 
of  the  Cavaliers.  My  father  was  one  of  these  unfortunate  men. 
He  cursed  the  false  monarch  in  the  bottom  of  his  heart, 
and  set  off  back  across  the  water.  There  he  need  beg  no 
man's  bounty,  but  could  earn  a  decent  pittance  with  the  sword. 
From  that  day  to  this  he  hath  not  forgiven  the  House  of 
Stuart  :  my  father  never  forgives  an  injury.  For  years  he  hath 
fed  the  fire  of  his  animosity,  and  that  cold  bigot  James  hath 
added  fuel  to  it.  Monmouth  s  rebellion  crushed  any  respect 
Sir  Nicholas  might  have  borne  him  on  the  score  of  his  father's 
memory.  He  is,  as  you  know,  a  staunch  son  of  the  West,  and 
the  wholesale  butchery  of  his  fellows  was  more  than  he  could 
abide  ;  so  now  he  and  many  of  the  greatest  men  in  the  realm 
are  engaged  on  an  enterprise  that  hath  for  its  object  the  down- 
fall of  the  Stuarts." 

I  uttered  a  half-audible  cry.  Instantly  there  shot  into  my 
mind  the  results  of  its  success,  and  what  they  meant  to  me.  I 
beheld  a  vista  of  cherished  hopes  :  freedom,  the  chance  to  earn 
an  honest  livelihood,  the  revocation  of  my  outlawry,  the  aveng- 


A  PERILOUS  MISSION.  1Oi 

ing  of  my  father's  death  !  Sure  the  lady  looked  so  intent  at  me 
that  she  must  have  read  every  phase  of  my  emotion. 

"  Suppose,"  quoth  she  insinuatingly,  "  a  share  was  proffered 
Master  Armstrong  in  this  conspiracy  ?  " 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  madam,  don't  play  with  my  suscepti- 
bilities !  Dost  know  I  have  sworn  to  avenge  my  father's 
murder  ?  " 

"Aha!  there  spoke  a  Copeland  Armstrong."  And  she 
smiled  a  smile  there  was  no  interpreting. 

Then  an  uneasy  silence  came  between  us.  For  myself  I 
was  digging  my  nails  into  my  palms  and  endeavoring  by  every 
means  extant  to  suppress  the  visible  signs  of  my  excitement. 
And  I  believe  my  most  remarkable  companion  was  trying  to 
gauge  the  depths  of  my  sincerity,  and  how  far  she  would  be 
justified  in  communicating  great  secrets  to  my  bare  word  of 
honor.  At  least  it  struck  me  that  this  was  her  employ.  Now 
this  hesitancy  and  this  prudence  made  me  feel  the  least  bit  in 
the  world  like  an  injured  person  ;  and  such  was  the  perversity 
of  my  pride,  that  e'en  though  my  inside  was  burning  to  hear 
the  whole  gist  of  these  weighty  matters,  I  would  sooner  have 
jumped  into  the  stream  than  have  spoken  one  word  for  her  en- 
couragement. 

"  Am  I  right  in  saying  an  Armstrong  is  always  loyal  to  his 
word  ?  "  she  asked  at  last,  her  face  a  picture  of  admirable 
gravity. 

"  Perfectly,"  I  replied  stiffly  and  concisely. 

She  guessed  that  my  pride  was  touched  ;  but  next  minute  her 
woman's  wit  rescued  her  from  a  delicate  situation. 

"  Begone,  unworthy  doubt ;  begone,  unkind  caution  !  "  she 
cried  archly ;  yet  no  sooner  had  her  tone  served  its  purpose 
(the  usage  being  to  stroke  and  soothe  Master  Armstrong's  del- 
icate sensibility)  than  she  relapsed  into  her  former  state  of 
excessive  staidness. 

"  Sir,"  she  went  on,  "  'tis  in  my  power  to  give  you  a  com- 
mission in  this  enterprise.  But  I  must  tell  you  at  once  that 
the  danger  attending  it  is  enough  to  strike  fear  to  the  boldest 
heart.  Should  you  accept  my  offer,  you  will  carry  your  life  in 
your  hand  till  the  scheme  hath  seen  fruition.  One  word  in  the 
King's  ear  would  be  your  death  warrant.  Yet  I  must  also  tell 
you  that  success  will  be  the  biggest  nail  yet  hammered  into 
the  Stuart  coffin." 

"  Give  me  entire  particulars,  I  prithee,  mistress  ? " 

"  Master  Armstrong,  I  dare  not  until  the  formalities  have 
been  observed.  Peers  of  the  realm  have  had  to  submit  to  them." 


1 02  MSSTA'ESS  DORO  THY  MAR  I' IN. 

This  beautiful  conspirator  produced  a  small  pocket  Bible 
from  the  folds  of  her  cloak,  and  in  the  face  of  the  blue  moon- 
light I  swore  the  oath  of  secrecy.  And  to  such  a  remarkable 
degree  did  this  young  girl  enter  into  the  solemnity  of  the  thing 
that  her  hand  trembled  when  I  returned  the  book. 

"  Master  Ned,"  she  said,  emboldened  by  this  assurance,  "  a 
letter  for  the  hand  of  my  lord  Churchill  must  be  carried  to 
London  at  the  earliest  possible  moment." 

'•  That  should  not  be  a  very  perilous  matter,"  said  I  stoutly. 

"  Nevertheless,"  she  replied,  "  'tis  a  bold  man's  task.  You 
are  not  to  think  my  lord  belongs  to  our  side.  He  is  high  in 
the  service  of  the  King.  And  the  missive  contains  treasonous 
proposals  to  tempt  him  to  adopt  our  cause  and  to  renounce  his 
master's.  Therefore,  should  he  be  minded  to  take  a  hostile 
view  of  the  matter,  a  nod  from  Jiim  will  suffice  to  clap  you  in 
Newgate  or  the  Tower.  I  may  frankly  say  my  lord's  attitude 
hangs  in  the  balance,  and  such  is  the  jeopardy  of  the  under- 
taking, that  when  the  matter  was  mooted  at  the  last  meeting  of 
our  friends,  one  and  all  were  so  personally  reluctant  to  forward 
the  letter,  that  lots  had  to  be  drawn  to  decide  who  must  do  so. 
Fate  decreed  that  my  father  should  deliver  it,  but  the  gout  hath 
since  decreed  that  he  shall  do  nothing  of  the  kind.  Of  course, 
Fate  is  very  dignified,  but  the  gout  is  a  stubborn,  unreasonable, 
arbitrary  creature,  who  hath  gained  his  way  as  usual.  There- 
fore, dear  papa  is  confined  to  his  chair,  unable  to  move  a  yard, 
much  less  a  matter  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  For  the  last 
three  days  he  hath  been  pulling  his  wig  and  abusing  his  luck 
by  turns,  and  wondering  what  the  Council  will  say  at  the  next 
meeting,  which  is  due  very  shortly.  He  says  I  shall  earn  his 
gratitude  if  I  can  get  him  out  of  the  dilemma.  I  proposed  that 
he  should  consult  some  of  the  other  conspirators,  but  as  they 
live  in  London,  very  little  -would  be  gained  by  that,  for  time 
presses.  Next  I  proposed  the  servants.  Them  he  dare  not 
trust  in  such  a  secret  and  momentous  affair,  so  I  proposed  my- 
self. He  brightened  up  at  that,  yet,  in  the  end,  declined  my 
assistance,  as  he  said  the  council  had  a  pig-headed  preju- 
dice against  women  taking  an  active  part  in  such  a  matter." 

"One  moment,  I  beg,  mistress,"  I  interrupted.  "Were  you 
quite  serious  in  that  proposal  ?  Dare  you  have  encountered  the 
dangers  of  the  road,  and  run  the  risk  of  the  gallows  ? " 

"And  why  not,  sir?  My  father,  old  and  enfeebled  as  he  is, 
doth  not  shrink  from  the  task.  Why  should  I  ?  I  have  four 
limbs  quite  sound,  and  if  as  yet  I  cannot  wield  a  sword  with  any 
degree  of  skill,  I  can  put  a  bullet  through  a  rogue  at  forty  yards." 


A  PERILOUS  MISSION. 


103 


"  Hast  no  fear?"  I  inquired,  aghast  at  these  most  unfemi- 
nine  sentiments. 

"  Don't  you  dare  to  catechise  me,  sir,"  she  replied,  shaking 
her  jaunty  curls,  whilst  a  laugh  lingered  about  her  eyes  and 
mouth.  "  Didst  say  fear  ?  Well,  yes,  I'm  afraid  of  mice — 
and  ghosts — and  stupid  questions — and — well,  I  think  that's 
about  all,  sir.  I  am  ne'er  affrighted  at  human  beings,  not  even 
at  Master  Edward  Armstrong." 

"  Methinks  you  are  a  very  strange  young  lady." 

'•  Sir,"  she  said,  with  feigned  severity,  "  if  you  seek  to  keep 
in  my  good  graces,  you  had  better  pluck  the  term  'young  lady' 
from  your  vocabulary.  I  abhor  it.  I'm  always  thinking  of 
those  water-blooded  creatures  who  hem  tuckers,  and  stitch 
night-caps,  and  who  weep  tears  of  joy  at  births  and  marriages, 
and  tears  of  sorrow  at  deaths  and  funerals  !  " 

The  wayward  wilful  girl  fairly  bubbled  with  laughter,  and 
added  saucily,  "  Master  Armstrong  is  a  good  deal  shocked, 
I'm  thinking." 

"  I  am,  mistress,"  I  felt  constrained  to  admit  ;  though  'twixt 
ourselves,  kinsmen,  I  may  confess  he.  was  much  more  be- 
witched and  delighted.  Hereupon  the  clock  of  a  neighboring 
village  chimed  the  hour  of  midnight.  That  was  the  signal  for 
us  to  retrace  our  steps  towards  the  house.  After  pledging  my 
willingness  to  enlist  in  the  mission,  she  promised  to  lay  the 
matter  before  her  sire,  though  she  caused  me  to  understand 
that  he  would  thankfully  accept  my  services. 

By  this  we  had  come  to  the  entrance  steps.  Accordingly,  I 
said  good-night,  and  set  forth  briskly  for  Bridgwater.  From  that 
hour  till  my  next  appearance  at  the  manor,  I  had  thought  for 
nothing  but  the  great  conspiracy  against  the  King.  I  weighed 
the  chances  of  success,  but,  seeing  the  slender  information  I 
possessed,  this  was  merely  folly.  I  marvelled  at  the  slice  of  luck 
that  had  enabled  me  to  strike  a  blow  at  my  enemies,  yet  never 
calculated  at  all  the  manifold  dangers  of  my  embassy.  I  was 
too  excited,  and  too  thoroughly  regaled  with  the  celestial  hopes 
inspired  by  this  new  project,  and  too  reckless  of  life,  to  have  many 
fears  for  a  matter  so  paltry  as  personal  danger.  Therefore,  I 
passed  the  time  till  six  of  the  clock  the  following  evening  in 
building  air-castles,  as  youth  alone  can  build  them. 

At  that  hour  I  once  more  passed  the  stone  dragons  on  the 
manor  gates.  The  first  object  I  beheld  in  the  swiftly  fading 
light  was  Mistress  Marvin  coming  at  a  clipping  pace  to  meet 
me.  One  glance  at  her  face  was  enough  to  learn  that  success 
had  crowned  her  planning  and  intricacies. 


104  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

"  Hoik,  Master  Armstrong,''  she  cried  exuberantly,  "  I  have 
cheerful  news.  I  whispered  a  word  in  papa's  ear  this  morning. 
4  Suppose,  sir,'  says  I,  'a  young  gentleman,  whose  grandfather 
bled  for  the  Roundheads  at  Roundway  Down,  should  consent 
to  convey  this  missive  to  London,  would  that  receive  your  ap- 
probation ?'  'Wench,'  says  he,  fierce  as  a  buck  rat,  'don't 
talk  to  me  about  grandfathers,  and  uncles,  and  cousins,  and 
aunts,  and  the  whole  genealogical  tree.  They  are  no  Tecom- 
mendation  whatsoever.'  'But  suppose,  sir,'  says  I, 'he  hap- 
pens to  bear  the  name  of  the  Copeland  Armstrongs  ? '  Master 
Ned,  that  was  too  much  for  him.  '  Dorothy,  ye  sly  minx,'  says 
he,  'get  him  to  take  the  oath,  d'ye  hear?  get  him  to  take  the 
oath !  We  shall  then  be  right  as  ninepence.  They're  the 
sworn  enemies  of  the  Stuarts,  and  I'd  quite  as  lief  trust  a 
member  of  that  family  as  one  of  mine  own  flesh  and  blood  !  ' 
'  Oh,  father,'  says  I,  '  'tis  a  providential  thing  thou  hast  one  of 
thine  own  flesh  and  blood  to  transact  thy  business.'  '  Less  o' 
your  lip,  you  saucebox  ! '  says  he.  '  Oh,  well,  papa,  I  was  just 
going  to  tell  you  of  an  arrangement  I  came  to  with  Master  Ann- 
strong  last  night.'  'Go  on!'  he  cries,  mighty  anxious.  'But 
I  was  to  have  less  of  my  lip,'  says  I.  Well,  anyway,  Master 
Ned,  I  had  three  kisses  out  of  the  man  before  I  said  another 
word.  Then  I  told  him  how  you  and  I  took  a  walk,  yestreen, 
to  observe  the  beauties  of  a  moonlit  landscape,  and  what  the 
nature  of  the  compact  was  you  entered  into.  My  word,  sir  ! 
after  that  I  had  a  royal  time.  I  have  had  more  kisses  from 
him  this  morning  than  ever  I  remember.  He  even  called  me  '  a 
Damned  clever  girl,'  and  declared  that  if  I  would  pay  more  atten- 
tion to  his  precept  and  tuition,  I  might  live  to  be  a  credit  to 
him  yet." 

Her  high  spirits  were  unbounded.  All  this  time  she  had 
been  conducting  me  triumphantly  to  her  father.  I  discovered 
him  in  his  chair,  exhibiting  quite  a  cheerful  countenance.  At 
my  request  he  immediately  apprised  me  farther  concerning  the 
conspiracy. 

"  In  the  first  place,"  he  began  with  immense  consequence 
and  emphasis,  after  moistening  his  lips"  by  a  pull  at  the  brandy 
punch,  "  ever  since  James  came  to  the  throne  he  hath  carried 
matters  with  far  too  high  a  hand.  He  is  trying  by  every  means 
in  his  power  to  foist  Popery  upon  the  nation.  'Twill  not  do. 
Neither  rich  nor  poor  will  brook  it.  This  is  a  Protestant  land, 
and  not  all  the  monarchs  in  Christendom  can  make  it  aught 
else.  It  hath  broken  with  the  Romish  Church  full  many  a  year ; 
yet  the  blind  fool  cannot  see  that  unless  he  desists  he  will  get 


A  PERIL  O  US  MISSION.  1 05 

such  a  bite  from  the  old  British  bull-dog  as  will  make  him  wish 
he  had  ne'er  put  his  ugly  foot  on  its  paws. 

"  Secondly,  the  King  has  mortally  offended  many  of  his 
staunchest  and  strongest  peers  by  his  lack  of  honesty,  justice, 
and  fair  dealing.  He  hath  no  more  honor  than  that  cat  yonder, 
and  those  about  him  know  it  well.  Young  man,  I  have  seen 
something  of  the  world,  having  grown  gray  in  it,  and  speaking 
to  you  as  a  friend,  I  set  more  store  by  honor  than  any  gaudy 
accomplishment.  And,  mark  you,  so  doth  any  other  man  of 
the  sword.  Corbleu  !  James  hath  not  an  atom  of  it  anywhere 
within  his  body.  He  will  swear  his  very  name  away  to  win  his 
own  lick-penny  ends ;  hence  his  most  powerful  subjects  are  his 
bitterest  opponents. 

"  Thirdly,  the  kingdom  is  well  aware  that  he  is  the  cowardliest 
tyrant  breathing.  His  heart  is  as  hard  and  pitiless  as  marble. 
This  land  hath  not  forgiven  the  foul  doings  of  his  servant 
Jeffreys  in  our  own  county  of  Somerset;  and  remember  he  was 
but  the  tool.  James  Stuart  employed  it.  The  knave,  the 
brute,  and  the  poltroon  have  peeped  out  many  times  in  His 
Majesty  since  he  took  the  crown,  and  now  he  hath  neither  the 
respect,  the  kind  wishes,  nor  the  confidence  of  the  nation. 

"  Accordingly,  there  is  a  goodly  number  of  us  banded  together 
to  wrest  the  throne  from  one  so  unworthy,  and  wrest  it  we  will. 
Day  by  day  we  multiply  in  strength  and  number.  Men  with 
names  that  would  make  you  stare  have  we  gotten  on  our  side 
already.  The  leaders  of  the  scheme  meet  one  day  in  each 
month,  at  some  house  in  the  country,  to  further  our  designs. 
We  dare  not  muster  in  Town,  for  this  plot  is  the  gravest  of 
secrets,  and  'twould  court  publicity  to  assemble  there.  And  if 
by  misadventure  the  King  did  get  ear  of  the  matter  there'd  be 
another  harvest  for  Jeffreys. 

"  I  am  reckoned  amongst  the  leaders,  and  at  our  last  meet- 
ing, at  my  lord  Danby's  place  in  Yorkshire,  great  news  was 
forthcoming.  Nothing  less  than  that  my  lord  Sunderland, 
Prime  Minister  of  England,  had  espoused  our  cause.  I  can 
tell  thee,  lad,  it  fired  the  pack  of  us,  and  that  same  day  the 
council  decided  to  fly  at  game  quite  as  high.  It  was  resolved 
to  approach  my  lord  Churchill,  the  best  soldier  His  Majesty 
doth  possess,  and  to  try  to  lure  him  over  toour  side.  As  you  may 
imagine,  this  is  truly  no  light  task,  and  one  fraught  with  an 
infinity  of  peril ;  for  we  are  utterly  ignorant  of  my  lord's  senti- 
ments upon  the  subject.  A  paper  was  drawn  up  instanter 
addressed  to  him,  duly  setting  forth  our  scheme,  together  with 
several  notable  inducements  for  him  to  lend  us  his  assistance. 


1 06  MJSTKESS  DORO  THY  MAR VIN. 

As  every  one  seemed  unwilling  to  take  the  responsibility  of  so 
grave  a  matter,  we  employed  the  arbitrament  of  chance  to  come 
to  a  decision.  As  luck  ordained,  it  fell  to  my  lot,  and  I  may 
say  it  is  signed  by  me  alone  on  behalf  of  the  rest,  so  that  should 
any  adversity  befall  it,  I  alone  shall  suffer.  The  cause  will  be 
unaffected,  and  there  will  still  be  plenty  left  to  carry  the  great 
work  forward." 

Now,  there  was  at  least  one  person  present  who  by  no  means 
shared  the  knight's  unconcern.  Suddenly  a  sigh  stole  forth 
from  somewhere,  and  as  Mistress  Marvin  and  the  Persian  cat 
were  the  only  other  animate  creatures  in  the  room,  I  must 
certainly  lay  it  to  the  account  of  the  lady.  Sure,  a  breath  so 
plaintive  and  so  heartfelt  was  never  known  to  issue  from  the 
throat  of  the  fluffiest  cat  that  ever  curled  a  tail.  Besides,  the 
girl  was  white  as  the  window  curtains. 

I  was  unspeakably  impressed  by  the  icy  nonchalance  of  the 
man  as  he  made  this  statement ;  by  the  implacable  resolution  of 
his  tone,  the  superb  self-reliance  it  bespoke,  and  his  never-swerv- 
ing steadfastness  to  Cause.  At  first  I  held  my  peace,  out  of  pure 
reverence,  as  it  was  a  time  when  the  child  of  a  new  generation 
himself  beheld  something  of  the  grandeur,  which  hitherto  he  had 
only  known  as  a  tradition  of  an  old  one.  This  was  a  strong 
man  ;  now  decayed.  But  the  seed  was  there  ;  I  recognized  it, 
and  was  awed  with  admiring  wonder. 

Piquet  was  sadly  neglected  that  night.  My  mission  com- 
pletely engrossed  our  tongues  and  thoughts.  Ere  long  the 
letter  was  extracted  from  its  receptacle — a  large  cabinet  beside 
the  fireplace — and  handed  into  my  custody.  Upon  that  Sir 
Nicholas  fully  primed  me  with  instructions  and  advice,  dwelt 
with  extreme  particularity  on  the  gravity  of  my  errand,  and 
recapitulated  the  paramount  importance  of  secrecy  and  haste. 
Indeed,  urgence  was  most  necessary,  for  the  next  meeting  \\as 
due  a  fortnight  hence. 

"  My  lad,"  quoth  the  knight,  "  I  hope  vou  will  be  back  in  ten 
days." 

"  Never  fear,  sir,"  said  I,  trying  to  imitate  his  strength  ; 
"  without  accidents  I  shall  be  back  in  less.  I  dine  at  Bruton 
at  noon  to-morrow." 

"  Had  you  not  better  take  a  couple  of  my  servants  to  guard 
you  against  the  dangers  of  the  road?  "he  asked.  It  seemed 
even  he  could  be  thoughtful  for  others  upon  occasion. 

"  Pooh,  not  likely  !  "  was  my  confident  reply.  "  If  a  man 
cannot  take  care  of  the  skin  nature  gave  him,  'tis  a  pitiful  thing 
indeed,"  a  speech  suited  to  the  man's  own  heart. 


SAINTS  AND  SINNERS  ARE  NEAR  AKIN.  107 

"Monfreref"  he  exclaimed,  an  unwonted  lustre  in  his  one 
gray  eye.  "If  Churchill  joins  us,  I'll  warrant  that  sweet  west- 
ern blood  so  wantonly  spilled  shall  be  soon  avenged." 

"  Bravely  promised,  sir  knight,"  I  said.  "  I  am  thine,  heart 
and  soul,  in  this  enterprise ;  thou  hast  only  to  command  me." 

With  that  he  bade  me  a  propitious  journey,  and  pressed  a 
bag  of  money  upon  me  to  defray  the  expenses  of  my  travels, 
which,  after  some  demur,  I  accepted. 

Mistress  Dorothy  accompanied  me  to  the  threshold  of  the 
outer  door. 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  and  'twas  music  to  hear  her  voice ;  'twas  so 
solemn  and  so  fervent,  "do  not  think  me  a  female  Machiavel, 
nor  one  who  hath  no  care  for  brave  men,  other  than  how  they 
execute  mine  own  designs.  Master  Armstrong,  I  thank  thee 
for  my  father,  and  I  thank  thee  for  myself.  Please  forgive  this 
further  reminder  of  thy  responsibilities  ;  but  oh,  sir !  remember 
my  father's  life  and  honor  are  bound  up  in  that  packet ! " 

I  could  see  her  face  was  very  white ;  I  could  see  her  hands 
were  trembling.  As  for  her  voice,  it  had  now  subsided  into  a 
throbbing  undertone  of  passionate  vibration. 

"  God  speed,  dear  friend !  brave  friend  ! "  she  said,  scarce 
above  a  whisper,  and  timidly  turned  her  right  hand  out  towards 
me.  I  touched  her  fingers  with  my  lips,  and  thrilling  with  joy, 
went  hence,  like  princes  in  the  fairy  tales,  with  my  hopes  upon 
ethereal  heights,  to  the  King's  Head,  Bridgwater,  prior  to  start- 
ing on  my  journey. 


CHAPTER  X. 

TENDS  TO  PROVE  THAT  SAINTS  AND  SINNERS  ARE  NEAR  AKIN. 

MASTER  WHIPPLE  had  passed  many  years  of  his  life  in  Lon- 
don. Therefore,  when  I  mentioned  to  him  that  night  my 
approaching  visit  thither,  he  assumed  superior  airs,  and  proffered 
me  words  of  admonition. 

"  Lucky  dog !  "  he  cried,  "  would  that  I  might  ride  thence 
beside  you.  'Tis  a  lively  spot,  my  lad — I've  had  brave  times 
'neath  the  shadow  of  Holy  Paul.  If  ye  get  Covent  Garden 
way,  step  into  the  Piazza  and  keep  your  eye  up  for  the  sign  of 
the  Bullfinch.  'Tis  the  comeliest  tavern  in  Town.  I'd  be 
driving  my  coach  and  six  had  I  but  stayed  there  till  now." 

"  Then  why  did  you  desert  so  goodly  a  spot  ?  " 

"  My  delicate  health,"  he  replied  with  a  chuckle,  and  tapped 


io8  MISTA'ESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

his  chest  with  unction.  "  Ye  see  it  became  a  matter  o'  necessity 
that  I  should  seek  a  change  of  air ;  the  London  atmosphere 
threatened  my  constitution.  'Twas  a  most  unfortunate  thing, 
for  I  made  a  snug  little  income  there.  I  served  strong  liquors 
all  day,  and  kept  the  dice-box  a  clicking  all  night.  The  best 
men  in  Town  would  consort  at  my  little  shop,  and  lost  or  won 
many  a  guinea.  But  one  day  there  cropped  up  a  scandal,  then 
there  came  a  lawsuit  and  a  lawyer;  after  that  a  snuff-snouted 
Bow  Street  runner,  with  a  warrant  in  his  dirty  paw  for  the 
apprehension  of  one  Peter  Whipple  of  the  Bullfinch,  Covent 
Garden.  Not  that  he  got  his  filthy  fingers  on  Peter  Whipple's 
sacred  person — no,  sir !  "  and  mine  host  smacked  his  fist  upon 
the  board  in  his  grandest  histrionic  manner.  "  You  ask  where 
was  Peter  Whipple  ?  He'd  bolted,  sir,  to  the  beautiful  country, 
for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  Old  birds  don't  wait  for  a  salted 
tail,  old  thieves  don't  wait  for  a  stiff  cravat,  nor  men  of  intellect 
for  Newgate." 

Mine  host  prattled  on  in  his  usual  windy  way ;  though  it 
does  not  become  me  to  set  down  all,  or  even  half  of  his  garrulity ; 
'twould  but  weary  you. 

'Twas  never  my  lot  to  know  a  man  with  such  a  perpetual  flow 
of  speech  as  was  possessed  by  Peter  Whipple.  His  tongue  was 
seldom  silent,  and  even  then  was  only  so  on  sufferance.  Once 
let  him  become  embarked  on  any  subject,  then  no  one  else 
might  introduce  a  word  ;  they  had  perforce  to  just  sit  still  and 
listen. 

The  main  outcome  of  his  verbosity  on  this  occasion  was  that 
I  heard  of  a  hostelry,  where  I  might  stay  during  my  impending 
sojourn  in  the  city.  This  was  the  house  of  one  Jabez  Fletcher, 
brother-in-law  to  Pete,  and  landlord  and  proprietor  of  the  Three 
Crowns  tavern  in  the  Strand. 

Just  as  Master  Whipple  was  the  greatest  man  I  ever  knew 
in  the  matter  of  the  brain,  in  many  other  ways  he  excelled  his 
fellows.  His  urbane  and  polite  demeanor  was  a  thing  to  talk 
about.  He  was  a  sleek  and  smiling  animal,  good-natured  to  the 
last  degree,  and  full  of  worldly  wise  sagacity.  He  never  so  far 
forgot  his  rule  of  life  as  to  let  his  serenity  be  ruffled  by  any  of 
the  disturbing  minor  incidents  that  are  a  bane  to  an  ordinary 
man's  existence.  He  never  so  far  descended  to  the  level  of 
common  mortals  as  to  show  anger  at  anything.  If  aught  should 
call  for  it,  he  assumed  instead  an  air  of  mild  and  sweet  forgive- 
ness. He  had  no  rough  edge  to  his  tongue ;  'twas  ever  as  smooth 
as  his  pomaded  hair.  Did  a  customer  abuse  him,  Pete  simply 
replied  with  an  overpowering  humility,  yet  experience  taught 


SAINTS  AND  SINNERS  ARE  NEAR  AKIN. 


109 


me  that  this  same  humility  made  a  portly  figure  in  the  score. 
The  word  "  business  "  was  the  guiding  star  of  his  career,  just 
as  the  three  words  "  Long  Bob  Bickers "  was  that  of  his 
recollection. 

Ere  I  retired  for  the  night,  he  bade  me  heed  another  land- 
mark of  the  past.  Said  he — 

"  Friend  Ned,  perhaps  you'll  find  yourself  in  the  vicinity  of 
Clerkenwell.  There  is  a  little  green  painted  conventicle  in 
Black  Lion  Place  with  '  Rest  for  weary  saints '  in  neat  black 
letters  stuck  over  the  door.  My  lad,  I  was  pastor  of  that  psalm- 
singing  flock  five  years." 

"  You  !  "  I  exclaimed.  "  Why  did  you  not  say  you  kept  a 
gaming-house  in  Covent  Garden?" 

"  To  be  sure,  my  pretty  innocent,"  he  answered,  his  little 
eyes  foxily  eloquent,  "  to  be  sure  I  did.  But,  ye  see,  it  is  just 
as  easy  to  be  a  saint  as  to  be  a  sinner,  and  very  near  as  profit- 
able. From  six  unto  eight  of  the  clock  on  week-day  nights, 
and  thrice  on  Sundays,  I  would  hold  discourse  to  my  Puritan 
brethren,  that  my  words  might  fructify  within  them.  My  con- 
gregation were  a  flourishing  sect,  with  purse-strings  long,  hearts 
soft,  heads  softer,  and  brains  a  little  this 'side  fatuity.  My  text 
was  ever  '  //  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive!  I  would 
dwell  on  the  fact  that  a  man  who  had  no  charity,  dispensed 
with  it  to  the  detriment  of  his  soul.  A  hard  heart,  I  would 
tell  'em,  hath  the  devil  for  a  foster-parent.  And  presently  I'd 
tap  the  brine  as  I  enlarged  upon  the  miseries  of  their  poorer 
brethren,  so  that  when  the  trencher  was  passed  round  for  the 
relief  of  the  wants  of  the  needy,  it  was  always  piled  with  gold 
and  silver  pieces,  and  I,  being  the  most  zealous  of  the  chosen, 
took  upon  myself  to  dispense  their  bounty." 

"  Whew  !  "  I  whistled. 

"  Of  course  I  did.  And  this  select  and  large-hearted  sect 
never  interfered  with  business  in  the  Piazza,  as  the  '  bloods  ' 
did  not  assemble  till  Mrs.  Polly  Wilders  could  bewitch  'em  no 
longer.  Ah,  lad,  those  were  the  times  !  They  and  Bob  Bick- 
ers will  never  return." 

"  Pete,"  I  asked,  much  struck  with  the  methods  of  this  man, 
which  so  far  excelled  mine  own,  "  did  no  mishap  ever  mar  the 
execution  of  your  scheme  ?  " 

"  Pish  !  not  likely.  Brains  provide  for  mishaps  and  such- 
like, and  oft  turn  'em  into  disguised  blessings.  And  now, 
young  friend,  I'll  trouble  you  to  hearken  to  the  voice  o'  wisdom. 
In  this  wicked  world,  my  boy,  strict  attention  to  business  alone 
doth  pay.  You  and  I,  were  we  ever  so  righteous,  could  not 


1 1  o  MIS  TRESS  DORO THY  MAR VI N. 

reclaim  it,  and  would  probably  die  in  a  ditch  for  our  pains. 
We  all  have  our  methods.  I  use  my  headpiece,  you  use  your 
pistols,  the  parson  his  mouth,  and  the  cut-purse  his  ten  fingers. 
The  mercer  round  the  corner  sells  his  wares  at  three  times 
their  proper  value.  The  Westminster  lawyers  draw  fees  they 
never  earn  from  crack-brained  litigants  who  have  no  better 
sense  than  to  squander  their  substance  thus.  By  the  way,  be- 
ware of  women  and  lawyers.  They  are  the  devil's  creation. 
Again,  the  parson  dons  the  cassock  to  fill  his  belly,  and  gives 
nought  but  words  for  good  gold  and  silver.  Every  man  to  his 
trade,  say  I.  You  go  your  way,  I  go  'mine.  We  shall  at  least 
have  a  roof  above  our  heads  till  the  coffin  or  the  gallows  claims 
us.  If  then  we  don't  get  to  heaven,  methinks  we  shall  find 
ourselves  among  friends  at  the  other  place." 

I,  having  patiently  heeded  whilst  he  enunciated  this  out- 
landish dogma,  bade  him  sweet  dreams,  seized  a  candle,  and 
sensibly  betook  myself  to  bed.  I  rose  early  in  the  morning, 
and  pushed  on  swiftly  towards  my  destination.  Indeed,  only 
once  did  I  slacken  rein  till  I  came  to  Brutpn.  Here  I  stayed 
three  hours  to  dine,  and  to  give  Joe  a  rest.  And  then  my  peace 
of  mind  was  hurt  by  a  serious  adventure.  It  occurred  after  I 
had  ate  my  meal,  just  as  I  was  on  the  point  of  re-departure. 

I  had  sought  the  saddle,  and  was  walking  Joe  out  of  the 
yard  of  the  hostelry,  when  a  man  came  towards  me  in  a  secret 
fashion,  as  if  afraid  of  notice.  Also,  his  dress  accorded  with 
his  stealthy  manner.  A  sad-colored  cloak,  long  and  capacious, 
covered  him  from  head  to  heels,  leaving  only  his  spurred  rid- 
ing boots  exposed,  whilst  a  low-crowned,  broad-brimmed  hat, 
pulled  low  down  over  the  eyes,  and  a  face  much  muffled,  did 
their  best  to  baffle  the  public  gaze.  To  my  surprise  this 
fellow  approached  my  saddle,  and  laid  a  gloved  hand  on  the 
bridle. 

"  Tarry  a  moment,  good  sir,"  he  said,  in  an  unnatural  voice 
scarcely  higher  than  a  whisper  ;  "  wouldst  like  to  earn  a  few 
guineas  ? " 

"  Certainly,"  said  I,  nowise  averse.  Forthwith  a  bag  of 
tempting  bulk  was  brought  from  underneath  the  strange  man's 
cloak,  and  held  up  for  my  inspection. 

"  All  these  shall  be  thine,"  he  said,  still  in  his  covert  tone, 
"  if  you  will  hand  me  the  letter  you  have  upon  you  for  my  Lord 
John  Churchill.  Here  is  one  hundred  times  its  weight  in  gold, 
and  the  cunning  villain  shook  the  guineas. 

The  gold  was  held  beneath  my  nose  more  temptingly  than 
ever.  That  aroused  Black  Ned  from  his  dormant  state,  for  he 


SAINTS  AND  SINNERS  ARE  NEAR  AKIN.  in 

it  was  who  sniffed  it.  Without  a  word  I  shot  out  my  hand, 
seized  the  bag,  and  grabbed  it  from  its  owner's  grasp  before 
he  could  apprehend  my  motive.  Next  I  plucked  a  pistol  from 
the  holster,  and  thrust  it  in  the  coistril's  face,  at  which  he 
shrank  back  cowed. 

"  Peradventure  this  may  teach  you,"  I  cried,  "  not  to  insult 
honest  folk,  you  hangdog  villain  !  Well  may  you  hide  your 
face  from  the  light  of  day.  Get  you  gone,  or  I'll  break  your 
bones,  and  for  the  future  seek  not  to  corrupt  your  fellows." 

I  might  have  struck  the  wretch  with  the  butt  end  of  my 
weapon,  had  he  not  been  so  much  affrighted.  As  it  was  I  con- 
tented myself  with  plenteous  revilings,  and  in  the  end  the 
coward  sidled  stealthily  away.  However,  I  may  tell  you  much  of 
my  anger  was  merely  simulation.  It  is  a  way  with  rogues  to 
make  parade  of  rectitude  in  their  dealings  with  their  equally 
dirty-minded  brethren.  Therefore  this  member  of  the  tribe, 
being  in  my  power,  it  pleased  me  to  trade  upon  my  surface 
virtue,  which,  as  you  know,  was  no  nicer  than  his,  though  maybe 
not  so  grovelling  and  paltry. 

This  affair  gave  me  grave  concern,  for  it  was  patent  that  my 
mission  was  known,  and  it  was  more  than  likely  other  measures, 
not  so  gentle,  might  be  used  to  obtain  possession  of  the  letter. 
I  hugged  the  paper  to  my  bosom,  and  swore  Kelston  Manor 
should  ne'er  see  me  again  if  any  misfortune  happened  it.  All 
my  future  was  bound  up  in  it.  All  my  hopes  were  centred  in 
it.  Love  and  vengeance,  the  holiest  and  unholiest  of  pas- 
sions, were,  according  to  the  bearer,  encased  betwixt  its  wrap- 
pers. 

I  rode  briskly  forward,  seldom  swerving  from  the  direct  road 
to  London.  The  missive  was  jealously  guarded,  and  for  better 
precaution  I  stitched  it  into  the  lining  of  my  doublet  that  night 
at  my  halting-place,  and  slept  with  it  on  my  back,  and  thereby 
sacrificed  physical  comfort  for  ease  of  mind. 

1  may  tell  you  a  journey  to  Town  in  those  days  was  not  the 
pleasurable  affair  it  is  now,  when  comfortable  and  speedy  stage- 
wagons  traverse  good  roads  thither.  Also  it  was  a  serious 
matter  then  to  travel  unattended,  for  highwaymen  and  footpads 
abounded,  though  I  had  no  fear  of  them  until  I  passed  the  Wilt- 
shire borders,  as  up  to  that  point  I  was  too  well  known  to  be 
molested.  However,  I  pushed  on  without  mishap,  for  I  never 
travelled  after  sunset,  and  in  the  daytime  my  pistols  always 
reclined,  duly  charged,  close  at  hand  in  the  holsters. 

My  head,  by  no  means  staid  and  sapient,  as  youthful  ones  are 
not  supposed  to  be,  was  topsy-turvy  with  the  events  of  the  past 


1 1 2  MJSTKESS  DOKO THY  MAR VI N. 

two  weeks.  Briefly,  Edward  Armstrong,  thief  and  outlaw,  had 
been  buoyed  from  the  bog  of  black  despair,  unto  an  altitude  of 
hope.  Two  circumstances  had  combined  to  produce  this  change. 
Foremost,  the  plainest  and  most  visible,  was  Mistress  Marvin's 
narrative.  Here,  indeed,  was  a  wide  vista  of  relentless  longings 
and  angry  passions,  that  embraced  all  my  prospects  for  the 
future.  My  father's  death  could  be  visited  on  his  murderers, 
my  sentence  of  outlawry  removed,  and  my  livelihood  earned  by 
honest  means,  if  only  these  designs  should  be  compassed.  I 
turned  the  matter  over  in  my  mind,  examined  carefully  the  pros 
and  cons,  and  pondered  on  the  chances,  only  to  decide  that  no 
man  could  say  what  would  be  the  fruits  of  the  conspiracy,  but 
that  they  must  be  portioned  out  just  as  God  determined. 

Then  another  influence  was  at  work,  a  stealthy,  subtle  influ- 
ence, which  was  perhaps  \he  frimum  mobile.  To  this  I  was  loth 
and  slow,  in  equal  parts,  to  affix  the  proper  name.  Throughout 
my  tedious  journey,  I  could  not  eject  the  vision  of  a  sprightly 
maid  with  laughing  eyes  out  of  my  maggoty  pate.  I  tried  more 
than  once  to  do  so,  doubtless  believing  the  effort  was  one  to  be 
commended.  Still  it  was  a  thoroughly  vain  endeavor.  "  \Yhat 
business,"  I  asked  myself  a  dozen  times,  "has  this  lovely  ap- 
parition in  my  head?"  The  question  was  unanswerable.  To 
speak  plainly,  it  was  God's  business.  Man  cannot  say  how  his 
heart,  if  he  has  one,  may  leave  him,  or  to  what  address  his  affec- 
tions maybe  consigned. 

Now  I  was  well  aware  that  I  had  no  logical  right  to  love 
Mistress  Dorothy  Marvin.  I,  the  base  creature  who  had  sunk 
so  low  ;  but  I  could  not  help  it.  I  was  well  aware  it  was  mor- 
ally, ethically,  casuistically  wrong;  but,  again,  I  could  not  help 
it.  I  might  fight  with  facts,  I  might  grapple  with  common  sense, 
I  might  struggle  with  myself,  but  the  fiat  had  gone  forth,  and 
from  that  time  onwards  Ned  Armstrong,  highwayman,  was  a 
slave  to  the  pertinacious  passion. 

I  suppose  the  chief  deed  of  life  is  to  fall  in  love,  or  else  fall 
out  of  it,  though,  of  course,  some  there  are  who  spend  their  days 
without  such  high  seasoning  to  their  anaemic,  cut  and  dried  exist- 
ences. Then,  I've  heard  talk  of  folks  who  go  into  this  affair 
of  love  in  a  careful,  calculating  manner ;  and  contrive  through- 
out the  course  of  the  palpitating  business  to  keep  their  brains 
alert,  their  faculties  alive,  and  their  eyes  uncommonly  wide  open. 
In  fact,  they're  said  to  pay  due  regard  to  time  and  circumstance, 
and  to  walk  path-keepingly  upon  the  intoxicating  pilgrimage. 
Now  this  is  what  I  can't  abide  !  •  No  doubt  these  cautious 
wooers,  at  the  mercurial  time  of  declaration,  will  eat  a  full  meal 


SAINTS  AND  SINNERS  ARE  NEAR  AKIN.  113 

ere  they  make  it,  and  at  the  fateful  moment,  instead  of  parad- 
ing warmth  and  divers  kinds  of  soulful  eloquence,  will  not  go 
down  upon  their  knees  lest  they  crack  their  Sunday  pumps,  and 
so  will  actually  perform  the  thing  upon  their  feet  with  a  disgust- 
ing phlegm  that  is  a  defiance  to  the  Muses.  Kinsmen,  'pon 
my  soul !  were  I  the  ladylove  of  such  a  swam,  I'd  pack  him  off 
about  his  business.  These  unromantic  methods  seem  to  me 
nought  less  than  insult  to  throbbing  Dulcinea  ;  a  sacrilege  to 
Psyche !  Anyway,  I  do  hope  these  milk-fed  creatures,  who, 
because  they  know  no  raptures,  lose  the  amplitude  of  love's 
delicious  flavor,  will  be  "completely  bit,"  as  the  cant  phrase 
goes,  when  they  enter  the  courts  of  Hymen.  For  to  take  it  as 
sedate  as  you  would  take  your  dinner,  and  with  not  so  good  a 
relish,  is  downright  wickedness. 

So  I,  a  young  man  without  discretion  in  matters  of  the  heart, 
had  suddenly  made  a  profound  discovery.  I  learned  that  the 
magician  Cupid  had  waved  his  wand  over  Master  Edward  Arm- 
strong, or  Black  Ned,  or  the  pair  of  them,  if  it  please  you, 
whereat  their  collective  wits  had  gone  moon-raking,  and  they 
reduced  to  that  direful  state  ycleped  the  high  nonsensical. 
Children,  be  ye  peers  or  peasants,  honest  men  or  felons, 
beware  of  maids  with  wondrous  eyes  ! 

Now  when  the  full  and  clear  result  of  my  heaven-directed 
penetration  was  borne  upon  the  remnant  of  my  wits  that  was 
hid  within  the  understanding,  the  same  remnant  said  to  the  wit- 
less major  portion,  "  Be  no  utter  fool,  Ned  Armstrong."  But 
sure  Ned  Armstrong  was  a  fool,  I  make  bold  to  say,  the  biggest 
fool  alive  when  he  let  his  mind  run  on  the  witcheries  of  Mistress 
Marvin.  Thus  what  with  one  thing,  then  another,  my  head- 
piece fairly  reeled  under  the  burthen  of  so  many  things  to  think 
about.  Certes,  'twas  never  made  for  so  large  a  cargo. 

Master  Whipple  had  laid  it  down  that  all  men  were  knaves 
and  rogues  to  a  high  extent,  though  they  varied  in  degree.  He 
said  their  culpability  was  equal,  and  that  they  only  differed  in 
skill  and  method.  I  recollected  one  of  his  dicta  (oft  delivered), 
to  wit,  "  that  we  might  possibly  be  no  worse  than  our  neigh- 
bors, but  then  were  certainly  no  better."  "We  lived,"  he 
said,  "  to  best  one  another,  and  one  mould  fashioned  the  lot  of 
us."  "Though, "said  he  again,  "  the  wisest  and  the  deepest  of 
our  brethren  went  through  life  in  silk  and  broadcloth,  and  thereby 
did  sometimes  cheat  the  gallows."  I  thought  on  this  till  my 
brain  refused  its  office.  I- ascribed  it  a  queer  yet  pleasant  sub- 
ject. But  what  had  Peter  Whipple's  dicta  to  do  with  love,  my 
father's  death,  Mistress  Dorothy  Marvin,  or  my  perilous,  mis- 


1 14  Ml 'STRESS  DOROTHY  MAR VJN. 

sion  ?  Here  is  the  solution  to  the  riddle  in  a  little  compass — 
Black  Ned  was  a  wicked  rogue,  cursed  with  a  conscience,  and 
lie  sought  to  bolster  it. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

IN    WHICH    MY    LORD   CHURCHILL    KNITS   HIS    BROW. 

AT  noon,  .on  the  third  day  of  my  journey,  I  found  myself  for 
the  first  time  in  the  city  of  London.  I  was  amazed  at  it,  as 
every  countryman  must  be.  It  was  larger  than  Exeter,  Taun- 
ton,  and  Bridgwater  put  together,  tho'  I  considered  it  by 
no  means  so  kindly  a  place  as  any  one  of  them.  The  shops 
displayed  much  magnificence,  with  wares  both  rare  and  costly  ; 
the  buildings  filled  the  eye  with  wonderment;  houses  abounded 
on  every  side,  jumbled  close  by  one  another,  shutting  out  pure 
air  and  the  blissful  sunshine  ;  whilst  the  atmosphere  was  stuffy, 
and  reeked  with  foul  matters,  that  are  not  bred  down  in 
the  West.  Yet  the  citizens  make  big  pretence  of  attending  to 
the  weather ;  and,  the  day  being  bright,  several  declared  to  me 
how  welcome  the  sunshine  was  to  them. 

"  Sunshine  !  "  said  I.  "  I  see  no  sunshirue  in  this  murky 
place — all  walls  and  chimney  stacks  !  I  account  it  a  most  mis- 
erable day !  " 

They  would  shake  their  heads  solemnly  at  this,  and  ask, 
"  Young  man,  what  shall  you  account  a  rainy  one  ? " 

I  fervently  hoped  I  might  not  be  there  to  see  it. 

Also  the  people  were  neither  so  kind  nor  courteous  as  they 
are  in  our  parts.  I  found  them  perpetually  on  the  hurry- 
scurry,  never  tarrying  to  use  politeness  and  civility.  They 
pushed  and  hustled  kindred  wayfarers,  using  knees  and  elbows 
freely — for  all  the  world  as  though  the  devil  was  treading 
on  their  heels.  The  first  time  I  went  abroad  on  foot  I  marked 
this  lack  of  manners  most  particularly.  The  way  they  shoved 
and  thrust  me  from  side  to  side,  tripped  me,  kicked  my  heels,  ran 
me  down  and  generally  beset  me,  was  truly  shameful.  And 
Gothlikewas  their  mode  of  doing  this.  They  cursed  me  lustily 
the  while,  and  declared  I  incommoded  the  path,  till,  with  body 
and  spirit  very  sore,  I  boldly  bearded  one  rude  fellow,  who 
cocked  a  bony  knee  into  my  poor  ribs. 

"  Methinks  you  had  best  mend  your  manners,  Master  Jack- 
anapes !  "  angrily  quoth  I. 

"  Kennel  puppy  !  "  was  his  insolent  retort,  as  he  sprawled  a 


MY  LORD  CHURCHILL  KNITS  HIS  BROW.  115 

leg  behind  my  back,  evidently  desirous  of  tippling  me  into  the 
filthy  ditch  which  ran  in  the  open  street. 

Few  were  cleverer  than  I  in  deft  use  of  limb,  or  in  alertness 
of  body,  as  my  pride  was  plenteously  bestowed  thereon.  There- 
fore I  was  too  quick  for  his  lumbering  clumsiness,  so  brought 
two  heels  smartly  down  on  his  outstretched  foot,  and  butted 
him  atilt  with  my  head  to  his  stomach.  This  doubled  him  up 
howling,  thereupon  I  trickily  kicked  his  heels  from  under  him, 
and  straightway  the  blusterer  splashed  on  his  back  into  the 
muddy  water;  and  as  I  rejoiced  to  think  the  fellow  was  near  a 
head  my  superior  in  stature,  this  adventure  served  as  a  salve 
to  my  injured  feelings. 

Master  Fletcher  had  a  royal  welcome  for  me  at  his  hostel  in 
the  Strand  when  I  mentioned  the  name  of  his  kinsman,  Peter 
Whipple.  Still,  the  first  meal  I  partook  of  under  his  roof  occa- 
sioned much  coaxing  towards  the  stomach.  The  sense  of  the 
delicate  mission  I  had  to  accomplish  afflicted  my  appetite  and 
weighted  my  spirits,  for  now  the  crisis  was  so  nigh,  a  fitting 
sense  of  its  dangerous  nature  was  too  apparent  to  be  agreeable. 
And  every  minute  I  lingered  I  more  fully  developed  this  white- 
ness of  the  liver.  However,  I  am  not-  one  of  those  persons, 
who,  having  a  jorum  of  nauseous  physic  to  take,  begin  by  smell- 
ing it,  remarking  the  color,  and  afterwards  vainly  wondering 
whether  it  is  so  queasy  as  reputation  and  the  nose  aver.  No  ; 
this  is  not  my  way  at  all.  I  would  toss  it  down  without  pro- 
crastination, glad  to  get  it  off  the  mind.  Thus,  it  was,  having 
ate  so  poor  a  meal,  that  Master  Fletcher  at  once  wished  to 
board  me  at  the  rate  of  meals  supplied,  without  heed  to  quan- 
tity partook  of,  I  brushed  my  garments  thoroughly,  and  removed 
all  stains  of  travel,  though  even  then,  by  contrast  with  the 
Londoners,  I  looked  a  trifle  ungenteel.  Those  folks  dressed 
in  the  strict  mode,  if  purse  permitted,  and  if  not,  they  would 
rather  sacrifice  the  texture  of  the  cloth  than  have  clothes  of 
homely  cut. 

By  the  knight's  previous  advice  I  set  out  for  Whitehall  straight 
away.  Methought  'twould  be  the  surest  means  to  learn  my 
lord's  whereabouts  if  I  inquired  at  the  King's  palace,  because 
he  was  often  with  His  Majesty  on  business  of  the  State.  I 
must  confess  that  in  all  my  life  I  ne'er  felt  more  full  of  fear, 
since  the  Commander  had  only  to  oppose  the  plan,  then  Newgate 
and  a  stretched  neck  would  undoubtedly  be  my  lot.  Yet  I 
gulped  down  these  qualms  and  strode  out  bravely,  though  I  was 
compelled  to  make  more  than  one  inquiry  as  to  the  direct  way 
thither. 


1 1 6  M/S'fKESS  DOROTHY  MAR  VJN. 

I  came  ere  long  to  a  large  building,  not  near  so  handsome  as 
others  I  saw  in  this  city.  A  cavalier  in  gay  attire  was  in  con- 
versation with  the  sergeant  of  the  guard,  beside  the  gateway. 
Resplendent  he  looked  in  purple  coat  of  the  brightest  plush, 
and  the  great  array  of  silk  and  silver  lace  strewn  about  his 
person  ;  whilst  a  smart  ostrich  feather  stuck  in  his  cap  enhanced 
the  other  finery.  He  gave  me  a  curious  look  when  1  asked  for 
my  lord  Churchill,  as  if  he  were  not  sure  in  his  mind  what 
so  rustic  a  person  could  want  with  him  ;  yet,  when  1  spoke  of 
the  urgency  of  the  errand,  he  stopped  chewing  his  toothpick, 
and  deigned  to  answer. 

"  If  ye  want  my  lard,"  he  said  in  a  curious  mincing  way, 
which  I  have  heard  since  was  much  affected  by  the  fops  and 
courtiers  of  that  time,  though  without  improvement  to  their 
utterance,  "  he  hath  been  closeted  with  the  King  for  an  hour  or 
more,  and  is  still  with  him.  What  is  it  to-day,  Binkie,  thinkest 
thou  ?  Be  it  the  quartering  of  troops  among  the  Dissenters,  or 
the  advisability  of  active  measures  against  the  Dutch  ? " 

"No  idea,"  said  the  indifferent  Binkie,  taking  a  huge  pinch 
of  snuff  from  an  elegant  box,  and  conveying  the  same  to  his 
nostrils  in  a  very  artistic  manner. 

However,  by  dint  of  perseverance  I  was  able  to  impress  the 
courtier  with  the  import  of  my  message,  which  I  declared  was 
for  his  lordship's  private  ear.  Accordingly,  he  had  the  con1 
sideration  to  put  me  in  a  position  to  obtain  an  audience.  With 
this  in  view  he  led  me  across  the  courtyard,  and  up  a  broad 
flight  of  stone  steps,  into  the  palace  itself.  I  followed  him 
thence  along  a  corridor,  up  another  set  of  stairs,  and  therefrom, 
after  several  twists  and  turnings,  into  a  small  ante-chamber, 
surrounded  by  the  richest  Gobelin  tapestry,  and  with  a  thick, 
warm-colored  carpet  for  the  floor. 

I  was  destined  to  pass  an  anxious  time,  pending  the  arrival 
of  his  lordship ;  as  this  interval  kept  my  hopes  and  fears  upon 
the  rack,  and  my  mind  upon  the  tenter-hooks  of  expectation. 
At  last  steps  were  heard  outside  the  door ;  then  pit-a-pat  went 
my  craven  heart,  and  at  once  I  wished  the  matter  done  with. 

A  tall  man  entered.  His  countenance  was  comely,  his  car- 
riage beautifully  erect,  his  attire  scrupulous  for  elegance  and 
grace,  and  his  gait  soldierlike  and  easy.  He  was  certainly  a 
person  to  look  at  twice,  if  only  because  he  was  my  Lord  John 
Churchill.  He  bowed  to  me  with  that  high-bred  air  that  comes 
to  men  by  nature.  Yet  his  courtesy  had  just  that  dash  of 
condescension  in  it  that  I  doubt  not  was  intended  to  let  me 
know  that  I  spoke  to  a  superior.  Twenty  years  hence  this 


LORD  CHURCHILL  KNITS  HIS  BROW.  117 

same  John  Churchill  was  to  be  famous  the  wide  world  over  as 
the  victor  of  Blenheim,  Ramillies,  and  Malplaquet,  and  as  the 
bane  of  the  whole  French  nation.  Yet  how  was  I  to  know  this? 
Therefore  do  not  blame  me  for  not  taking  better  stock  of  him 
on  this  occasion.  I  grant  you  that  'tis  an  excellent  thing  to  use 
your  eyes  for  the  observation  of  your  fellow-men,  but  through- 
out this  awe  inspiring  audience  my  heart  was  troublesome  and 
my  head  was  nervous,  so  that,  'twixt  the  two,  I  was  far  too 
anxious  for  the  welfare  of  my  neck  to  notice  aught  but  his  most 
salient  characteristics.  So,  kinsmen,  at  the  risk  of  affording 
you  a  disappointment,  I'm  sure  I  cannot  say  how  his  peruke 
was  curled,  or  what  was  the  color  of  his  snuff-box.  Howbeit,  I 
somehow  chanced  to  note,  certainly  without  a  pre-arranged 
intention,  that  he  had  a  row  of  silver  buttons  on  his  vest,  had 
a  purple  pimple  on  either  cheek,  another  on  his  chin,  and  that 
he  blew  his  nose  just  like  a  common  mortal.  I  can  also  refute 
the  scientific  theory,  that  he  owed  his  military  success  to  being- 
cross-eyed,  and  could  therefore  see  further  than  the  French, 
because  he  squinted.* 

At  first  methought  his  lordship  full  to  the  brim  with  affability. 
Yet  I  soon  discovered  this  suave  exterior  was  merely  a  gesture 
garb,  simply  a  superficial  trick  to  hide  the  skilful  politician. 
The  man  was  cautious.  Every  moment  he  peered  slyly  through 
his  eyelashes,  and  to  vary  this  procedure,  gave  me  keen,  hawk- 
like glances  when  he  thought  I  was  not  looking.  By  this  means, 
ere  we  came  to  business,  without  the  semblance  of  a  stare,  or 
aught  uncivil  or  unbecoming  in  a  gentleman,  he  had  secretly 
fortified  his  mind  with  every  outward  fact  appertaining  to  Mas- 
ter Edward  Armstrong. 

I  handed  him  the  missive.  He  examined  it  closely.  It  took 
him  some  time  to  read  it ;  indeed,  I've  heard  say  he  was  far  apter 
with  the  sword  than  with  the  quill.  After  possessing  himself 

*  Kinsmen,  I  will  maintain  what  is  set  down  above,  even  though  it  runs 
contrary  to  the  received  opinion.  Of  late  many  theories  had  been  rife  to 
explain  the  triumphs  of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough.  I  presume  this  is  to 
soothe  the  feelings  of  nonentities.  'Tis  a  favorite  device  of  little  men  never 
to  admit  that  a  kindred  son  of  Mother  Eve,  begat ,  of  flesh  and  blood,  can 
do  better  than  themselves.  Therefore,  when  a  neighbor  does  a  brilliant 
deed,  and  hath  his  praises  sung,  and  doth  achieve  the  crown  of  worldly 
glory,  rather  than  admit  that  he  hath  what  is  called  a  special  genius,  they 
must  set  it  down  to  a  supernatural  agent,  or  else  call  in  "  luck  " — the  fee- 
blest word  God  ever  put  in  the  mouth  of  man — to  help  them.  Yet,  it  seems 
to  me,  the  best  way  to  deal  with  fools  is  to  feed  'em  on  madhouse  facts, 
and  let  'em  batten  on  blunder  muddle  ;  so  that,  by  and  by,  having  gorged 
overmuch  of  sophistry,  they  will  sicken  of  the  imbecile,  and  thus  be  sur- 
feited with  folly. 


1 1 8  MISTRESS  DOKO  Til  Y  MA  A'  VI N. 

of  the  contents  he  stroked  his  chin,  and  knitted  his  brow,  whilst 
I  noted  his  demeanor  with  wholesome  trepidation.  Yes,  my 
lord  stroked  his  chin,  and  the  wrinkles  on  his  brow  corrugated 
into  ugly  puckers.  Presently  he  laid  the  letter  down,  stared  at 
me  with  all  his  might,  and  finally  drummed  his  fingers  on  the 
table. 

As  for  me,  I  have  always  tried  to  pass  as  a  man  of  courage, 
yet,  frankly,  beads  of  sweat  sprang  out  upon  my  forehead.  I 
sought  to  read  the  verdict  in  his  eyes,  but  my  gaze  only  quailed 
and  dropped  before  his  steadfast  look,  without  having  learned 
a  hint  of  what  was  in  his  mind.  Meantime  his  lordship's  per- 
turbation thickened.  He  set  his  lips  as  tight  as  wax,  and  shifted 
his  eyes  from  me  to  a  corner  of  the  ceiling.  Still  in  doubt,  he 
seized  the  letter  again,  and  carefully  re-perused  it.  The  up- 
shot was  for  him  to  clench  his  fist,  and  to  walk  to  the  door  and 
lock  it.  Methought  I  was  surely  lost,  for  he  was  a  bigger  man 
than  I,  and  had  a  rapier  at  his  side.  Soon  the  room  was  filled 
for  me  with  cold  visions  of  Newgate  and  the  gallows.  Then 
Churchill  fixed  me  with  a  lynx-eyed  look,  and  asked — 

"  Young  man,  do  you  know  what  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin,  your 
master,  hath  put  into  this  missive  ? " 

Here  was  a  nice  thing  to  ask!  It  was  indeed  an  unkind" 
question.  Now,  perhaps,  I  should  never  have  scrupled  to  lie 
upon  a  meaner  matter,  yet  by  what  I  confess  to  be  a  peculiar 
mode  of  reasoning,  I  really  felt  that  this  was  a  pretty  point  of 
honor.  And  thus,  though  a  falsehood  would  have  so  happily 
availed,  not  for  a  moment  did  I  entertain  the  idea  of  any  such 
proceeding.  Therefore  I  was  silent,  being  uncertain  which 
course  to  pursue  to  creep  out  of  the  dilemma. 

"  No  need  to  answer,  my  fine  fellow,"  quoth  my  lord,  still 
shrewdly  gazing.  "  I  can  too  well  see  thou  hast  knowledge  of 
its  contents.  'Tis  the  darkest  treason." 

The  King's  Minister  laughed.  That  laugh  jarred  upon  me. 
It  sounded  positively  unchristian  to  my  ears. 

"Tush,  friend  !  "  said  he  again,  observing  my  uneasy  aspect, 
"  ye  needn't  take  on  so."  Thereat  he  sank  his  voice  scarce 
above  a  whisper.  "  Palace  walls  have  ears  !  "  he  added,  his 
face  still  blank  and  meaningless.  Shortly  afterwards  he  con- 
tinued in  a  brisker  tone,  "Now,  sir,  listen  with  every  care  to 
what  I  tell  you.  Inform  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin  that  I  accept  the 
proposals  here  laid  down.  And  you  may  tell  him  that,  if  I  com- 
mit nought  to  paper,  I  am  none  the  less  prepared  to  fully  sup- 
port the  enterprise.  Yes,  tell  him,  I'll  embrace  the  cause  heart 


MY  LORD  CHURCHILL  KNITS  HIS  BROW. 


119 


and  soul,  and  will  most  certainly  be  present  at  the  meeting 
to-morrow  week." 

Then  he  scratched  his  wig,  paused,  maybe  ten  seconds,  and 
burst  out  sharply  in  a  far  higher  key  than  heretofore — 

"  Ay,  ay,  Jack  Churchill,  J.  S.  is  nought  to  you  !  Beshrew 
the  black  old  crow,  and  his  bevy  of  sour,  unlovely,  wry-phiz'd 
strumpets !  "  *  Here  he  pulled  himself  up  very  short,  and 
blushed  in  unmistakable  confusion. 

"  Rat  me  !  "  he  exclaimed,  half  laughing,  "I'm  babbling  like 
a  simpleton  ;  but,  young  man,  I  hope  you  yourself  are  more 
discreet." 

"  I  should  not  be  entrusted  with  this  affair  an  I  were  not," 
was  my  retort,  which  was  very  well  for  one  country  bred, 
because  it  implied  reproof  under  the  cover  of  assurance. 

Now  Churchill's  words  were  sweetest  music  to  my  ears,  and 
by  a  phenomenon  in  physiological  laws,  they  had  the  effect  of 
letting  me  breathe  in  comfort  for  the  first  time  for  half  an  hour. 

After  my  lord  unlocked  the  door  (it  had  been  so  secured  to 
prevent  intrusion),  I  followed  on  his  heels  along  the  passage, 
until  he  disappeared  through  a  curtained  portal.  Just  as  he 
did  so  another  personage,  whose  air  arid  aspect  seemed  redo- 
lent of  latent  thunder,  issued  at  the  same  time  out  of  it. 

One  gay-robed  courtier  whispered  to  a  friend  hard  by,  as 
this  gentleman  passed  them  and  went  his  way,  "  My  lord  of 
Sunderland  is  not  very  amiable  to-day." 

So  this  was  the  great  prime  minister. 

When  I  had  safely  left  the  outer  gates  of  Whitehall,  I  may 
tell  you  the  putrid  city  air  smote  my  inner  organs  less  oppres- 
sively, the  people  seemed  less  insolent,  the  rumbling  vehicles 
less  noisy,  the  streets  less  filthy,  and  the  whole  place  more  fit 
for  Christians  to  abide  in. 

I  gave  half  a  crown  to  a  needy  man  of  letters,  half  a  guinea 
to  a  poor  widow  encumbered  with  nine  children,  to  make  no 
mention  of  divers  groats  dispensed  to  beggars  of  the  halt  and 

*  It  has  often  since  occurred  to  me  that  this  remark  was  wrung  from 
Churchill  by  years  of  irritation.  All  men  about  the  court  (being  charitably 
inclined,  I'll  not  include  their  wives  and  daughters)  felt  it  no  inconsider- 
able grievance  that  James  II.  should  prefer  uncomely  mistresses.  A  man 
can  forgive  a  woman  all  things  except  her  ugliness.  Therefore  people 
came  to  look  upon  it  as  a  standing  abuse  that  the  King,  when  he  exercised 
his  royal  prerogative  of  having  a  liberal  share  of  females,  should  choose  them 
old  and  beautiless.  Indeed,  so  much  did  this  national  nuisance  rankle,  that 
folks,  when  they  used  a  similitude  for  inelegance,  instead  of  saying,  "  ugly 
as  sin,"  or  "  ugly  as  a  toad,"  as  was  their  wont,  would  change  the  formula 
to  "  ugly  as  a  concubine." 


120  MISTRESS  DOKOTHY  MARVIN. 

lame  and  blind  persuasion.  I  also  bethought  me  of  the  home 
folks  at  Chilverley.  Whereupon  I  bought  a  shell  of  pearl  for 
mother's  hair,  a  necklet  of  virgin  pearl  for  Betty,  a  gold  watch 
for  John  emblazoned  with  the  hall-mark,  to  add  to  the  owner's 
pride  thereof,  and  to  beget  the  admiration  of  all  who  chanced 
to  see  it.  Furthermore,  I  invested  money  in  a  book  of  the 
classic  poems  of  the  good  and  great  John  Milton,  knowing  how 
the  eyes  of  Tobe  Hancock  would  brighten  when  he  beheld 
them.  It  was  superbly  bound  in  calfskin,  and  done  exactly 
into  print  by  Richard  Cooke  at  the  sign  of  the  Crown  and 
Anchor  in  Abchurch  Lane. 

Upon  this  I  returned  to  the  Three  Crowns,  and  disposed  of 
such  a  meal  that  mine  host  rubbed  his  eyes  in  wonderment, 
and  cursed  his  luck  for  boarding  rne  upon  the  terms  he  had 
done.  And  I  chucked  the  serving-maids,  which  was  not  my 
usual  custom,  and  swilled  beer  into  the  ostler,  the  stable 
boys,  the  drawers,  and  indeed  all  who  would  take  my  bounty. 
Such  was  my  joy  at  the  success  of  the  enterprise  ;  God  grant 
that  it  might  end  as  it  had  begun  ! 

I  decided  to  pass  the  night  at  Master  Fletcher's,  for  in  regard 
to  time,  I  was  well  inside  the  limit.  Besides,  this  strange 
London  was  far  too  wonderful  a  place  to  flee  away  from  with- 
out gathering  some  further  knowledge  of  its  marvels  and  its 
magnitude. 

Accordingly  I  informed  the  landlord  that  I  was  about  to  visit  a 
playhouse  in  the  evening  ;  from  thence  would  hie  to  supper  at 
a  coffee-house,  and  should  then  propose  to  put  fortune  to  the 
test  at  a  gaming-house,  as  often  enough  I  had  heard  Peter 
Whipple  say  was  the  way  young  gentlemen  of  means  spent 
their  nights  in  Town.  Now  Master  Fletcher  agreed  with  me 
that  this  plan  was  very  fine,  but  to  this  opinion  he  added  an 
important  reservation.  In  fact,  to  my  disgust,  he  shook  his 
head  in  superior  wisdom,  and  even  went  far  enough  to  hint  that 
I  was  young  and  foolish. 

"Art  mad?"  he  asked.  "Verily  you  know  not  the  ways  of 
this  London,  you  who  have  never  been  abroad  in  it  before  to- 
day. Why,  man  alive,  it  is  a  very  Hades  to  those  who  don't 
know  aught  about  it.  Come,  come,  young  sir,  reflect,  else  I:m 
thinking  you'll  repent." 

However,  in  spite  of  this,  I  adhered  to  my  determination, 
whereat  the  only  resource  left  mine  host  was  to  give  his  head 
a  portentous  shake,  and  to  prophesy  the  swift  and  sure 
approach  of  evil. 

Notwithstanding  his  prognostication,  I  went  to  the  theatre  in 


THE  SWORDSMAN  IN  HOMESPUN.  1 2  I 

Drury  Lane.  It  was  a  famous  one,  too,  wherein  Mistress 
Gwynne,  whose  intercourse  with  the  late  King  had  long  been 
common  property,  was  wont  to  gain  her  histrionic  triumphs. 
On  this  night  the  piece  was  a  lively  one  of  Sir  John  Suckling's. 
And  though  Mrs.  Bracegirdle  jauntily  sustained  the  foremost 
female  character  in  it,  I  culled  but  scant  enjoyment  from  the 
play,  for  the  noise  was  as  a  Babel,  no  heed  being  given  to  the 
performance  or  the  actors.  The  fops  were  incessantly  busy 
with  their  quizzing-glasses.  They  ogled  the  women,  chiefly 
court  toasts  and  such-like  painted  hussies,  who,  I  was  surprised 
to  see,  had  no  covering  at  all  for  arms,  neck,  and  shoulders. 
Sorry  creatures  I  considered  them.  Their  faces  were  painted, 
powdered,  and  patched,  and  their  bodies  tricked  out  in  gauds 
and  finery.  Why  the  beaux  should  choose  to  pay  them  such 
flattering  attentions  was  a  point  beyond  my  comprehension. 
Unless  'twas  because  these  gallants  knew  full  well  that  if  they 
peeped  beneath  the  paint  of  the  simpering  dames  "and  damsels, 
they  might  find  a  weakness — or,  as  I  am  engaged  upon  so  polite 
a  topic — if  you  please  I  should  have  said  a  foible,  that  goes  by 
another  name  than  virtue. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE   SWORDSMAN    IN    HOMESPUN. 

IT  is  a  popular  weakness  of  youth  to  set  greater  store  by  its 
own  opinion  than  by  that  of  persons  with  a  wider  and  more 
matured  sagacity.  Therefore,  being  flushed  with  success,  if  not 
with  wine,  and  unheedful  of  any  man,  much  less  of  well-meant 
counsel,  I  betook  myself  from  the  playhouse  (which  disappointed 
me)  to  a  coffee-house  to  partake  of  supper,  instead  of  hieing 
homewards  as  all  peaceable  and  sensible  citizens  were  wont  to 
do ;  for  the  streets  of  London  were  dangerous  at  this  time  of 
the  evening — a  fact  I  was  about  to  discover. 

Thus  it  was  I  went  abroad  without  a  care  for  the  perils  of 
the  darkness,  and  with  heart  enough  to  fight  all  the  town  if 
necessary.  Supper  disposed  of,  I  set  forth  for  Groom  Porter's, 
the  most  famous  gaming-house  in  the  city  (vide  Peter  Whipple), 
determined  to  test  my  fortune. 

A  choice  company  I  found  assembled,  and  very  strange  was 
the  place  to  my  ears  and  eyes.  The  continuous  rattle  of  coins 
and  the  dice-box ;  the  ceaseless  clatter  of  tongues ;  the  opulent 


1 2  2  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MA R  VI N. 

and  varied  stream  of  oaths  ;  the  glitter  of  jewels,  and  the  rich 
ness  of  the  gamblers'  attire,  all  tended  to  make  the  scene  be- 
wildering to  a  new  beholder.  Numberless  small  round-topped 
marble  tables  were  scattered  here  and  there  on  nearly  every 
yard  of  flooring ;  and  the  gamesters  were  ranged  around  them 
in  various  nondescript  postures.  Some  had  eager,  twitching  vis- 
ages breathlessly  bent  over  the  cards  and  cubes,  others  showed 
all  their  sensibility  in  their  restless  gaze  or  in  their  chalky  faces, 
whilst  now  and  then  the  player  would  lounge  back  in  his  seat 
with  a  fine  assumption  of  nonchalance,  and  would  yawn  when 
he  won,  and  laugh  when  he  lost,  and  speak  no  word  except 
what  was  vital  to  the  game ;  and  even  though  it  was  a  matter  of 
a  country  house  or  the  very  last  guinea  of  his  patrimony,  this 
demeanor  altered  not,  but  he'd  stake  all  his  chattels  and  his 
worldly  wealth,  until  Uame  Fortune  coldly  shook  her  head  at 
him  for  the  last  time,  and  so  left  him  desolate  and  penniless. 
Then  the  bankrupt  would  smile  and  curse  her  fora  fickle  jade, 
and  seek  to  forget  her  heartlessness  in  the  mirthful  pleasures 
of  the  bowl.  Yet  the  next  morning  this  same  audacious  roy- 
sterer  would  spit  himself  on  his  sword,  and  thus  die  as  he  had 
lived — a  bad  example.  Of  course,  his  friends  would  proclaim 
abroad  the  virtues  of  him  departed,  and  attend  the  funeral 
weeping.  Not  that  the  moral  went  home  to  them.  No,  that 
was  left  for  discreet  men's  children  ;  but  their  eyes  were  wet 
because  it  was  correct  to  have  them  so  at  funerals. 

\Yell,  I  mingled  with  this  careless,  laughing,  swearing,  boozing, 
brilliant  company,  and  every  man  Jack  of  it  had  had  more  gold 
than  brains  at  some  time  of  his  existence.  And  I,  unused  to 
such  a  profuse  array  of  gorgeous  clothes,  marvelled  at  these  fine 
habiliments,  and  was  minded  to  run  away,  being  greatly  discon- 
certed at  the  plainness  of  mine  own.  I  vainly  wished  that  I 
had  come  to  Town  in  my  choicest  suit,  though,  to  be  sure,  'twas 
nought  to  brag  upon,  when  compared  with  this  magnificence. 
However,  nature  conquered  diffidence  ;  for,  plainly  speaking, 
she  had  endowed  me  with  a  certain  easy  confidence  of  self  that 
rose  to  the  demands  of  any  company. 

I  threaded  my  way  among  the  tables  with  fifty  guineas  clink- 
ing in  my  pocket  and  with  my  heart  beating  uncomfortably  fast 
behind  my  doublet.  My  progress  gave  me  some  prominence, 
for  my  coat  being  long  and  the  spaces  narrow,  it  swept  off  one 
table  a  mass  of  cards  and  coins,  to  the  detriment  of  their 
owners'  play,  yet  not  to  that  of  their  tongues,  however.  In 
fact,  such  a  volley  of  robust  abuse  beset  me  that  all  in  the  room 
gave  a  look  towards  my  direction,  and  straightway  saw  my 


THE  SWORDSMAN  IN  HOMESPUN.  123 

coarse  appearance.  Nor  was  their  surprise  concealed  by  any 
of  their  own  pains,  for  each  asked  the  other  what  I  did  there. 
Accordingly  I  informed  the  room,  in  the  calmest  manner  possi- 
ble, "  that  being  a  gentleman  myself,  I  sought  to  engage  in  play 
with  gentlemen."  This  set  them  all  a-tittering,  which  me- 
thought  said  little  for  their  manners,  their  kindness,  or  their 
courtesy.  However,  by  and  by,  one  young  man  having  so  far 
condescended  as  to  play  with  me,  and  I  having  grown  more 
familiar  to  their  gaze,  I  was  forgotten  in  the  moment  of  their 
own  affairs. 

My  opponent  was  an  overdressed  coxcomb,  both  impudent 
and  swaggering.  His  face  had  many  tokens  of  a  misspent 
youth — muddy  complexion,  furrowed  forehead,  fishy  eyes,  and 
a  bloated  skin.  He  was  dressed  in  the  height  of  fashion,  and 
wore  an  ostentatious  periwig,  full  bottomed,  and  carefully 
curled  to  agree  with  the  current  mode.  A  plum-colored  velvet 
coat,  a  green  vest  of  the  same  material,  a  frilled  open-fronted 
cambric  shirt,  a  silver-hilted  rapier  fantastically  chased,  shoes 
beribboned  and  silver  buckled,  and  three  glorious  rings  gemmed 
with  precious  stones  flashing  on  his  fingers,  all  combined  to 
beautify  his  person,  and  to  make  him  as  pretty  a  clothes-pole 
as  you'd  wish  to  encounter. 

Luck  had  certainly  been  against  this  dressy  gallant,  for  un- 
der his  supercilious  guise  there  couched  an  angry  petulance 
which  clearly  said  he  was  not  a  graceful  loser.  The  vicious 
way  he  threw  the  dice,  and  the  harsh  glitter  of  his  eyes,  put 
me  at  once  upon  my  guard.  Now,  fortunately  for  myself,  I 
was  not  quite  the  tyro  I  had  been  evidently  suspected.  The 
truth  is,  Master  Whipple  knew  more  of  these  midnight  pas- 
times than  the  majority  of  those  assembled.  Therefore  he  had 
imparted  to  me  a  liberal  allowance  of  his  widespread  knowl- 
edge. Nay,  in  confidential  moments,  he  had  actually  whispered 
some  naughty  usages  for  thumb  and  finger,  that  rogues  alone 
did  practice.  "Because,"  as  he  said,  in  that  dry  way  of  his, 
"  to  pass  through  a  world  so  wicked,  you  cannot  be  too  care- 
fully equipped  to  combat  the  designs  of  your  fellow-creatures." 

Thus,  at  the  beginning,  my  opponent  reckoned  without  his 
host,  for  experienced  as  he  doubtless  was,  I  was.aware  of  his 
every  trick,  and  versed  in  his  each  manoeuvre.  Besides,  my 
breadth  of  information,  as  I  soon  discovered  for  myself,  em- 
braced a  far  wider  sphere  than  his,  or,  in  other  words,  to  employ 
a  pasteboard  metaphor,  "  'twas  like  a  court  card  up  my  sleeve." 

Before  long  I  had  to  call  my  fine  gentleman's  attention  to 
sundry  breaches  of  the  rules,  which  he  innocently  enough  (sic) 


124  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

committed.  Methinks  this  correction  gave  him  umbrage,  see- 
ing that  he  received  it  with  a  scowl,  but  was  sufficiently  a  man 
to  gruffly  beg  my  pardon.  I  won  steadily  ;  and,  be  it  known, 
honorably,  whilst  my  ill-tempered  companion,  quite  to  his  credit, 
after  these  two  or  three  trifling  lapses,  adhered  strictly  to  the 
regulations.  His  breath  became  baited  with  oaths,  as  perse- 
veringly  enough  I  kept  transferring  golden  guineas  from  his 
pocket  to  mine  own,  deeming  this  a  congenial  occupation.  Sure 
the  gallant  was  entirely  destitute  of  fortune,  wherefore  ere  long 
his  stock  of  cash  became  exhausted.  So  he  staked  one  of  his 
rings,  and  I  won  it. 

"  Deuce  take  the  luck  !  "  he  muttered.  "  There  goes  a  bauble 
that  would  fetch  forty  guineas  from  Dolman  in  Paul's  Yard  any 
morning." 

At  this  added  stroke  of  victory,  I  had  the  sense  to  be  con- 
tent with  my  winnings.  Therefore,  instead  of  playing  for  an- 
other of  the  jewels,  as  I  was  pressed  to  do,  like  a  prudent  man, 
I  quietly  gathered  up  my  large  quantity  of  gold  and  thrust  it 
deep  into  my  breeches  pocket,  and  also  slipped  the  lately  gotten 
ring  on  to  my  middle  finger.  At  this  my  opponent  swore,  and 
his  wrath  burst  out  with  meagre  ceremony. 

"  How  now,  you  bumpkin  !  "  he  shouted,  getting  swiftly  from 
his  seat.  "  Don't  you  know  'tis  the  custom  here  for  the  loser 
to  cry  enough  ?  " 

"  Is  that  so,  good  sir  ? "  I  inquired  with  sweetest  courtesy ;  I 
assure  you  kinsmen  it  seemed  then  quite  a  natural  thing  to  be 
so  polite. 

He  of  the  bloated  countenance  bubbled  with  indignation,  and 
consigned  myself  and  luck  to  a  place  with  a  sultry  climate. 

"  None  o'  your  infernal  innocence,"  quoth  he.  "  Play  on,  I 
say." 

"  Hum  !  "  I  murmured,  sarcastically.  His  words  had  aroused 
my  spleen. 

"  Dost  hear,  chawbacon  ? "  he  loudly  cried,  wine  and  mis- 
fortune mastering  him. 

"  Hum  !  "  I  grunted. 

"  Play  on,  I  say,"  he  screamed,  nearly  bereft  at  my  cool  de- 
meanor. 

This  disturbance  was  not  lost  on  the  others,  and  they  came 
crowding  round  with  apprehensive  faces.  Indeed,  they  ap- 
peared much  more  disturbed,  methought,  than  the  occasion 
warranted. 

Meantime  my  excited  friend  continued  to  rave  at  the  top  of 
his  bent,  and  I  watched,  with  amused  indifference,  his  face 


THE  SWORDSMAN  IN  HOMESPUN.  125 

turn  a  bluish  purple.  Verily  hard  drinking  and  hard  luck  had 
maddened  him.  He  was  a  big  clean-built  fellow,  and  the  mode 
he  banged  his  fists  about  was  not  a  pleasant  sight. 

"Art  going  to  finish  it?"  he  howled.  "  If  not,  by  the  Lord, 
I'll  finish  thee  !  " 

"  Hum  !  "  I  reiterated,  still  feeding  his  exasperation. 

All  this  while  those  around  had  gradually  dropped  their  ban- 
ter, and  now  strained  their  eyes  towards  the  pair  of  us.  I 
began  to  wonder  at  their  earnestness.  Suddenly  one  of  the 
number,  a  man  somewhat  older  and  staider  than  the  rest, 
leaned  over  the  back  of  my  chair,  and  whispered  quickly — 

"  Forbear,  young  man,  for  the  love  of  heaven  !  You  do  not 
know  this  gentleman.  'Tis  Perry  Wilmot." 

"  Hum  !  "  I  grunted,  though  'twixt  ourselves  my  manner 
then  was  but  idle  braggadocio. 

So  this  was  the  notorious  Perry  Wilmot,  the  most  famous 
and  bloody  of  brawlers,  and,  rightly  or  wrongly,  said  to  be  the 
best  swordsman  in  England.  His  name  had  reached  even  as 
far  as  our  county.  For  the  moment  I  was  taken  aback.  But 
'twas  not  a  time  for  leisurely  procedure.  The  fire-brained 
gallant  was  so  angered  at  his  flouting,  that  no  sooner  had  I  dis- 
covered his  identity,  than  he  hit  me  across  the  jaw  with  the  flat 
of  his  hand. 

"  Perhaps  ye'll  fight,  if  ye  will  not  play  ?  Sink  me,  ye  shall 
do  one  or  t'other,  or  I'll  pin  you  as  you  sit !  " 

Instantly  he  threw  off  his  velvet  vest  and  doublet.  Out- 
wardly bold,  I  rose  from  my  seat,  determined  now  to  play  the 
part  I  had  already  taken,  e'en  though  it  cost  me  my  life.  I  may 
say  such  was  the  height  of  my  reputation  in  the  West,  that  my 
name  was  known  there  far  and  wide  as  a  brilliant  swordsman. 
This  I  always  strove  to  maintain  ;  yet,  as  that  matter  goes,  I 
was  not  deserving  of  such  celebrity,  being,  when  all  was  said, 
no  master.  Still  I'll  make  bold  to  claim  three  high  qualities. 
Without  boasting,  which  I  do  aver  is  a  trait  to  be  condemned 
in  any  man,  tho'  it  took  me  many  years  to  appreciate  that 
sentiment,  none  possessed  more  agility  of  movement,  keener 
and  nicer  sight,  or  stauncher  courage  than  myself.  And 
if  I  lacked  any  scientific  schooling  in  the  art,  methinks  these 
characteristics  stood  me  in  better  stead  than  a  mere  surface 
show  of  fancy  precept. 

At  this  time  I  had  yet  to  know  my  first  defeat,  therefore  the 
sudden  flush  of  surprise  allayed,  my  usual  pluck  and  confidence 
returned.  Wilmot  being  so  crapulous  with  wine,  'twas  evident 
he  would  be  placed  at  a  disadvantage.  Thus  I  had  no  fear  as 


1 26  MZSTKESS  DORO  TH  Y  MA R  VIN. 

to  the  ultimate  result,  providing  I  was  but  sufficiently  alert  to 
avoid  his  early  thrusts.  Now,  each  and  every  onlooker  was 
quite  certain  in  his  mind  that  it  was  not  possible,  such  was  the 
dire  fame  of  my  antagonist,  for  me  to  come  out  of  the  encounter 
scatheless.  Accordingly  the  great  man  had  a  large  and  boister- 
ous following.  Having  made  up  their  minds  that  my  time  was 
nigh,  the  spectators,  after  breathing  many  hints  of  coming 
death,  set  about  to  expedite  my  leavetaking.  The  first  step  to- 
wards the  grand  finale  was  performed  by  piling  up  the  chairs 
and  tables,  so  as  to  make  a  decent  fighting  space  in  the  middle 
of  the  room.  Without  a  doubt  I  had  to  die,  and  derision  beset 
me  on  every  side,  touching  the  climax  of  the  contest. 

One  bold  blasphemer  went  down  on  his  knees,  clasped 
his  hands  in  the  fervent  piety  of  heartfelt  prayer,  and  passion- 
ately pleaded  for  the  better  reception  of  my  soul. 

Alas  for  rny  chances  in  the  next  world  !  He  had  scarce 
poured  forth  a  dozen  words,  when  a  ruthless  neighbor,  with  no 
such  kindly  intention,  dealt  him  a  lusty  kick  on  his  nether  part, 
whereupon  a  bout  of  fisticuffs  ensued,  which  delayed  my  passing 
hence  a  full  five  minutes. 

They  crowded  round  the  hero,  the  Honorable  Peregrine 
Wilmot,  and  wrestled  among  themselves  for  the  honor  of 
holding  his  worship's  doublet. 

"  Be  not  too  hard  on  the  oaf,  Perry,"  said  one.  "  I'll  warrant 
he  knows  not  the  hilt  from  the  point." 

Thereat  another  took  compassion  on  my  hopeless  plight  and 
ran  towards  me,  exclaiming — 

"  Oh,  my  poor  young  clodhopper,  run  back  to  thy  mammy 
while  there  yet  be  time.  This  wicked  man  will  slit  that  country 
skin  o'  thine  as  thou  wouldst  slit  that  of  one  of  thine  own  lamb- 
kins. Why,  my  cherubim,  he  fairly  pinked  my  Lord  Graham 
and  young  Charlie  Cook,  the  only  son  of  Sir  John  his  father, 
each  within  an  hour  of  t'other  in  Lincoln  Fields,  last  week  !  " 

"  One  moment,  gentlemen,  I  beg,"  I  interposed,  as  my  enemy 
was  rolling  up  his  sleeves,  the  cruelest  glow  in  his  eyes.  "  I 
would  like  to  lay  a  wager.  Will  any  gentleman  among  you  lay 
odds  at  three  to  one  that  I  do  not  beat  my  good  friend  Perry 
Wilmot  by  fair  sword  play,  and  without  spilling  a  drop  of  his 
precious  blood  ? " 

"  What !  "  clamored  the  bystanders  with  one  accord  ;  "  thou 
art  surely  mad  !  " 

Yet  it  was  no  big  matter  to  show  otherwise.  Thereon  many 
of  them  still  possessed  of  a  white  groat  piece  eagerly  beset  me 
to  stake  the  money.  Thus  it  was  I  wagered  with  odds  allowed 


THE  SWORDSMAN  IN  HOMESPUN.  127 

at  three  to  one  that  I  beat  the  Hon.  Peregrine  Wilmot,  the 
most  capable  swordsman  in  England,  by  the  pure  art  of  fence, 
without  spilling  a  drop  of  his  precious  blood.  I  staked  every 
silver  shilling  I  had  won,  and  a  portion  of  mine  own  money 
besides ;  and  'twas  only  an  afterthought  of  caution  that  pre- 
vented me  risking  the  beauteous  jewel  that  tickled  my  middle 
ringer.  And  I  made  this  wager  because  1  knew  my  own  head 
was,  all  things  considered,  tolerably  clear,  and  that  my  adver- 
sary's was  thick  as  a  morning  dew  on  Exmoor. 

Neither  did  I  doff  my  thick  brown  jacket  to  win  it.  Why 
was  this  ?  Maybe  I  was  fastidious  and  over  confident,  but  in 
sober  verity,  I  was  aware  that  my  underlinen  had  known  a 
fortnight's  wear  without  heed  to  soap  and  water,  and  further- 
more, that  an  unpatched  rent  was  visible  in  the  shoulder  of  my 
shirt. 

Clash  came  our  swords  together,  and  the  gay-dressed  gallants 
fell  back  where  the  chairs  and  tables  were  piled,  that  our  arms 
might  swing  with  all  due  freedom. 

Clash  !  clash  !  and  my  opponent's  bewildering  sword-steel 
was  turned  from  my  heart  by  a  flash  of  the  wrist  and  a  twirl  of 
the  hilt.  The  song  of  metal  filled  the  'room  with  a  deafening 
ring.  Lunge  upon  lunge  gave  the  far-famed  Wilmot,  furious, 
wicked  lunges,  that  must  have  laid  me  stark  upon  the  spot  had 
one  slipped  my  guard.  I  had  nearly  fallen  into  one  of  the  most 
grievous  errors-a  swordsman  can,  to  wit,  making  too  light  of  an 
adversary.  His  terrible  onset  may  I  never  forget,  and  not  since 
have  I  known  it  equalled.  He  sprang  upon  me  with  a  fiendish 
fury.  I  felt  his  hot  breath  in  my  face,  and  was  for  the  moment 
dazzled  by  the  light  that  quivered  on  his  thirsty  blade.  Inch 
by  inch  the  fellow  drove  me  back,  and  thrice  his  point  came 
within  an  inch  of  my  skin  ere  I  could  interpose  a  parry.  Every 
nerve  I  strained  to  avert  his  steel,  but  soon  the  impetuosity  of 
his  onset  lessened,  tho'  none  too  soon  for  Edward  Armstrong. 

Before  long,  I  knew  I  was  his  master,  for  the  wildness  of  his 
efforts  told  all  too  surely  on  his  wine-clogged  head ;  and  the 
fire  of  his  attack  diminished  as  my  defence  became  more  cer- 
tain. Then  I  fairly  met  each  darting  stroke  without  ever  giving 
a  riposte  in  return,  because  'twas  my  game  to  let  him  vainly 
spend  his  strength  until  I  had  him  completely  at  my  mercy. 
Great  was  the  chagrin  of  Mr.  Wilmot's  admirers,  as  they  be- 
held their  champion  wax  himself  into  perspiration  and  bad 
language,  for  never  a  whit  did  he  get  the  nearer  of  ending  the 
combat  on  his  own  account.  For  mine  own  part  I  had  it  in  my 
power  to  finish  it  forthwith,  had  I  been  so  minded,  for  my  reck- 


128  Af/STRESS  DOROTHY  .MARVIN. 

less  opponent  soon  threw  prudence  to  the  winds,  and  attacked 
me  so  fruitlessly  and  so  rashly,  that  more  than  one  chance  had  I 
of  pinking  him.  But  I  forbore,  because  of  the  wager. 

Despite  the  force  of  his  friends'  appeals,  the  great  swords- 
man failed  altogether  in  beating  down  my  guard  and  slipping 
past  it.  By  and  by  the  sweat  steamed  off  him.  The  panting 
fellow  ne'er  sent  home  a  thrust,  and  at  length,  in  a  frenzy  of 
drunken  desperation,  he  flung  himself  almost  bodily  upon  me. 
I  could  have  had  his  life  then  ;  yet,  instead  of  a  swift  return, 
I  stepped  lightly  to  one  side;  flashed  my  blade  beneath  his 
own,  and  wrenched  it  from  his  grasp.  It  hurtled  thence  across 
the  room,  and  met  with  the  excellent  good  fortune  of  striking 
one  of  his  loudest  supporters  on  the  nost. 

The  Hon.  Peregrine  Wilmot  stood  sheepish  and  wet  with 
sweat  in  the  middle  of  the  floor,  whilst  the  company  gave  vent 
to  a  hum  of  astonishment.  Thereat  I  bowed,  and  began  to 
stuff  my  pockets  with  the  winnings,  for  one  and  all  paid  will- 
ingly. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  I,  gravely  saluting  them  with  my  uncov- 
ered weapon  ere  I  departed,  "  I  have  two  pieces  of  advice  to 
offer.  Never  support  the  greatest  swordsman  in  England  when 
he  be  the  worse  for  wine.  Also  take  not  every  man  who  wears 
homespun  for  a  country  bumpkin." 

Thus  I  paid  them  sweetly  for  their  insolence. 

Faith  !  they  looked  a  foolish  crew  as  I  left  them,  my  person 
heavily  weighted  with  their  guineas ;  yet  a  hubbub  of  loose- 
tongued  wonderment  arose  as  I  passed  out  into  the  street. 

I  have  since  been  told  that  "The  Swordsman  in  Homespun  " 
was  discussed  with  bated  breath,  and  together  with  his  prowess 
(so  cheaply  revealed)  formed  a  topic  for  many  a  clay  thereafter. 

With  great  reputation  left  behind,  I  stepped  homewards  to 
the  Three  Crowns  as  jauntily  as  my  pockets  would  permit. 
The  chill  night  air  bathed  my  hot  temples  refreshingly,  whilst 
the  moon  had  risen,  and  shed  a  soft  light  on  the  road.  Before 
every  tenth  door  a  flickering  oil-light  was  suspended,  which  I 
bethought  an  excellent  practice.  This  was  due  to  one  of  the 
very  few  wise  decrees  of  the  late  king's  reign.  The  folk  abroad 
were  nought  seemingly  but  roystering  swash-bucklers,  who 
rolled,  lurched,  and  staggered  from  side  to  side,  and  roared  out 
many  a  scrap  of  ribald  song  in  drunken  merriment. 

Midnight  had  passed  an  hour  since,  and  I  sought  the  shelter 
of  the  tavern  with  feet  of  the  quickest.  I  went  along  as  best  I 
might  through  the  vast  labyrinth  of  ways  and  byways.  With 
head  aloft  at  my  late  success,  I  had  no  thought  for  the  count- 


THE  SV/ORDSMAN  IN  HOMESPUN. 


129 


less  dangers  of  the  place  at  this  hour  of  the  morning.  My  mind 
lay  on  the  ring  I  had  so  lately  become  possessed  of,  when,  with- 
out any  warning,  I  bumped  down  all  of  a  heap  on  the  cobble 
stones,  and  had  directly  a  couple  of  villains  on  my  body.  Also 
I  felt  unrighteous  knees  pressed  hard  into  my  stomach,  whilst 
strong  fingers  came  nigh  choking  the  life  out  of  me,  such  was 
the  fierce  grip  on  my  windpipe.  Ere  I  could  utter  a  cry,  the 
grasp  was  deftly  loosed,  and  a  rag  thrust  three  parts  down  my 
throat.  And  all  there  was  left  to  do  that  I  might  save  my  money 
was  to  vainly  kick  at  the  air  whilst  these  parlous  rogues  rifled 
my  pockets,  and  jammed  their  knees  the  harder  on  to  my  luck- 
less body.  But,  to  my  relief,  this  wicked  game  was  interrupted, 
for  in  a  moment,  a  hoarse  cry  of  "  Bonaventors  to  the  rescue  !  " 
was  loudly  raised  but  a  few  yards  distant,  and  the  clatter  of 
many  feet  accompanied  it.  Forthwith  my  assailants  loosed  their 
hold,  and  made  off  mighty  quick.  Other  hands  were  laid  on 
me  ere  I  could  regain  my  feet,  and  I  was  dragged  on  to  them 
limp  and  gasping. 

Verily  my  deliverers  formed  an  uncouth  crew.  All  of  them 
were  young  gentlemen,  maybe  two  score  in  all,  the  worse  for 
wine,  with  naked  blades  and  cudgels  freely  brandished.  I  was 
soon  informed  that  this  was  a  band  of  the  justly  dreaded 
"  scourers,"  the  bane  of  all  peaceable  Londoners  after  nightfall. 
'Twas  they  who  beset  honest  men  and  rogues  without  discrimina- 
tion. Also,  when  there  was  a  lack  of  either,  sooner  than  be 
idle,  their  time  was  employed  to  strip  houses  of  their  shutter- 
hooks,  and  knockers,  and  ofttimes,  when  two  separate  bands 
of  them  came  in  contact,  fierce  fights  ensued,  till  the  city  watch 
dispersed  the  combatants.  My  rude  treatment  had  driven  any 
knowledge  I  possessed  of  them  clean  out  of  my  head.  There- 
fore, with  notable  lack  of  courtesy,  I  gasped  still  breathless — 

"  Who  the  devil  may  you  be,  gentlemen  ?  " 

This  query  was  ill-advised,  and  immediately  a  chorus  of  loud 
voices  dispelled  mine  ignorance. 

"  Know  ye  not,  then,  most  insolent  and  ungrateful  knave,  we 
are  of  the  Worshipful  Company  of  Bonaventors?  "  said  a  tall 
fellow,  the  foremost  of  them  all,  grinning  and  waving  his  sword 
about.  Hereat  the  whole  pack  of  them  clamored  among 
themselves  to  bring  my  lamentable  lack  of  knowledge  to  boot 
forthwith. 

"  To  the  kennel  with  the  scurvy  fellow,  that  he  may  not 
forget  us  for  the  future  !  "  called  out  another. 

"  Ay,  to  the  kennel  with   him  !  "  they  acquiesced  in  chorus. 

The  "  kennel,"  or  filthy  black  ditch,  lay  stagnant  with  oozing 


130  M/S7WXSS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

mud  across  the  roadway.  The  prospect  was  not  pleasant,  and 
already  I  began  to  shiver  at  the  thought  of  my  sousing.  Rough 
hands  were  laid  upon  me,  and  they  began  dragging  me  towards 
it,  my  kicks  and  struggles  notwithstanding. 

I  was  hard  by  the  brink,  when  once  again  my  affairs,  of  late 
so  intricate,  underwent  another  alteration.  Just  then  more  lusty 
cries  and  ring  of  steel  were  borne  upon  the  air,  which  further 
saturnalian  babel  heralded  the  approach  of  a  second  company. 

My  persecutors  halted,  and  the  first  speaker,  whom  I  took  to 
be  the  leader,  exclaimed  excitedly,  "Zounds,  lads!  'tis  Dicky 
Bardswell  and  his  boys.  Holy  mother!  we'll  serve  'em  as  we 
did  in  Fleet  Street  last  Monday  but  one." 

The  others  came  running  up,  mouthing  all  manner  of  warlike 
sentiment.  "  Hooray  for  Dicky  Bardswell,  a  bloody  nose,  and 
a  broken  pate  !  "  was  their  cry,  and  in  one  solid  body  they  rushed 
upon  us. 

Straightway  I  was  released,  yet  there  was  no  escape  from  the 
impending  battle.  It  was  but  a  narrow  pathway,  and  I  found 
myself  in  the  front  rank  of  the  Bonaventors.  The  drunken 
revellers  met  together  with  desperate  valor,  and  the  street  was 
alive  with  cries  and  blows.  Lusty  knocks  were  exchanged  by 
many  a  sword  and  cudgel.  Scarce  time  had  I  to  draw  my 
rapier,  ere  the  foremost  of  the  enemy  were  in  our  midst. 

The  Bonaventors  were  driven  back  before  the  mad  onset  of 
the  others.  In  a  moment  we  recovered  and  set  ourselves  firm, 
and  a  hand-to-hand  struggle  ensued,  blows  falling  thick  around, 
thicker  even  than  the  curses. 

At  the  first  assault  my  light  rapier  was  snapped  by  a  stave 
two  inches  below  the  hilt,  and  I,  deeming  the  occasion  war- 
ranted bold  measures,  flung  the  shattered  weapon  full  at  a  little 
fellow  with  a  cudgel  and  bounded  after  it  among  the  press, 
whereat  I,  the  little  fellow,  and  the  cudgel,  came  hurtling  heavily 
down  atop  of  a  recumbent  combatant,  where  we  writhed  and 
wrestled  under  the  heels  of  the  fighters.  I  got  that  cudgel,  and 
jumping  to  my  feet,  struck  hard  whither  the  fight  was  thickest. 
The  blood  flowed  freely,  I  may  tell  you,  and  soon  the  cobbles 
were  strewn  with  many  forms,  bleeding,  half  or  wholly  drunk, 
but  very  valorous. 

Our  party  was  driven  steadily  backward,  outnumbered  by  the 
enemy,  who  indeed  performed  wondrous  feats  of  daring.  They 
rallied  round  a  bandy-legged,  bull-necked  fellow,  the  redoubted 
Dicky  Bardswell.  This  brawny  Cyclops  mowed  down  our 
men  one  by  one,  and  though,  to  say  the  least,  his  method  was 
truculent  and  terrific,  'twas  not  the  less  impartial.  None  could 


THE  SWORDSMAN  IN  HOMESPUN.  131 

withstand  this  foeman  or  the  sweep  of  his  mighty  arm.  Before 
long  mine  head  fell  a  singing  suddenly,  and  the  blood  came 
pattering  down  my  neck.  Our  men  were  surely  losing.  The 
leader  was  felled  by  the  arm  of  Dick,  and  a  hoarse  cheer  went 
up  from  his  victorious  warriors.  Yet  the  struggle  ne'er  abated. 
With  the  thinning  of  numbers  we  clustered  up  the  closer,  and 
broken  pates  were  dealt  with  more  precision.  And  that  bold 
irresistible  Dicky  Bardswell  pressed  forever  forward,  and  at 
every  stride  our  brave  Bonaventors  were  knocked  down  like 
bullocks  before  his  strength  of  smiting. 

Said  I,  under  my  breath,  though  a  mist  of  blood  swam  in 
front  of  me,  "  Here  goes  for  that  bull  neck  o'  thine,  Dicky 
Bardswell !  "  and  go  I  did  right  smartly  for  it. 

Master  Dick,  mighty  clever,  dodged  a  skull-testing  smack 
from  another  quarter,  then  swirled  his  cudgel  overhead,  and 
brought  it  down  for  my  behoof.  Yet  quick  as  thought  was  I  to 
slip  in  under  it,  and,  locking  my  arms  fast  round  his  neck, 
gripped  a  heel  betwixt  his  own.  We  swerved,  though  locked 
so  tight,  and  with  a  tremendous  splash  the  puissant  Dick  and  I 
went  toppling  into  the  "  kennel."  And  I,  alas,  was  under- 
neath ! 

The  combat  ended  suddenly,  for  when  scarce  a  dozen  were 
left  with  legs  to  support  'em,  the  night  watch  came  purring  and 
panting  in  the  conscientious  execution  of  their  duty.  They  at 
once  took  the  wounded  into  custody,  whilst  the  rest  took  to 
their  heels  instead,  being  too  far  spent  to  give  the  men  of  law  a 
thrashing. 

"Lie  close,"  whispered  the  dauntless  Dick,  bobbing  his  head 
below  the  bank,  and  at  the  same  time  jamming  me  deeper  into 
the  slimy  filth  at  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  by  lying  full  length 
upon  my  saturated  person. 

"  In  the  King's  name,"  quoth  the  posse,  as  one  by  one  the 
prisoners  were  conveyed  on  shutters  to  the  round-house. 

"  They  only  once  came  too  early,"  whispered  Dick  again, 
who  was  wondrous  sociable;  "that  was  many  a  year  agone,  in 
the  Brodribb  days,  when  they  were  flung  into  the  kennel  every 
man  Jack  of  'em,  and  after  that  we  began  again  and  finished 
the  discussion  of  our  little  differences." 

The  watch  went  at  last,  whereat  Master  Bardswell  clambered 
from  the  slough  of  muck,  and  very  kindly  gave  a  hand  and 
hauled  me  out  of  the  caky  plaster  at  the  bottom.  Just  then,  I 
have  no  doubt  at  all,  I  was  the  filthiest  and  dismallest  animal 
in  creation.  The  blood  and  mud  clung  upon  me  horribly,  and 
my  skin  was  drenched  with  water.  We  shook  hands  without 


132  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

ill-will  and  went  our  several  ways,  did  Master  Dick  and  I, 
though,  to  be  sure,  time  and  circumstances  would  permit  no 
superfluity  of  politeness.  But  ere  we  did  so,  my  genial  com- 
panion, brimming  with  sociality,  clapped  his  hand  upon  my 
bloodied  scalp,  and  having  fingered  with  an  inquiring  touch  the 
damaged  part,  said  with  notable  frankness  and  good  fellow- 
ship— 

"Old  man,  that  crack  didn't  come  from  me.  I  hold  it  a 
point  of  honor  ne'er  to  hit  a  man  upon  the  brain-box  but  what 
I  smash  his  skull." 

I  reached  the  Three  Crowns  by  and  by,  yet  how  I  did  so 
cannot  be  chronicled  with  exactitude.  Still  I  got  there,  more 
dead  than  alive,  I  trow.  My  head  was  like  a  lump  of  clay, 
save  for  now  and  then  a  horrid  throbbing  to  remind  me  that  I 
had  it  still  upon  my  shoulders,  whilst  my  teeth  chattered,  my 
knees  knocked,  and  I  was  too  miserable  altogether  to  do  aught 
else  but  groan. 

Master  Fletcher  left  his  warm  bed,  grumbling,  to  admit  me. 
Presently  he  re-lit  the  candles,  unbarred  the  door,  stared  at  me, 
rubbed  his  eyes,  stared  again,  and  next  minute  lay  back  in  a 
chair  laughing  till  the  tears  rolled  from  his  eyes,  and  he  came 
nigh  having  a  fit  by  virtue  of  his  unseasonable  merriment. 
Indeed,  such  was  his  plight,  that  naught  availed  against  these 
symptoms,  save  and  except  a  prodigious  dose  of  the  strongest 
brandy. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

THE  MAN  IN  THE  CLOAK. 

MASTER  FLETCHER  recovered  after  a  while,  and  in  no  time  he 
rose  considerably  in  my  estimation.  Indeed,  the  expert  manner 
he  tended  my  hurts,  and  the  vigorous  way  he  swilled  the  coat 
of  mud  from  my  person  inspired  much  gratitude  within  me.  A 
warm  liquor  revived  my  flagging  spirits,  and  ere  I  retired  to 
rest  I  had  vowed  eternal  friendship  for  mine  host  since  his 
handling  was  so  deft,  and  felt  myself  to  be  the  soul  of  amia- 
bility. To  be  sure,  half  the  gold  I  had  had  in  my  pockets  had 
been  left  in  the  hands  of  rogues,  else  in  the  black  ditch,  yet 
this  was  accounted  the  lightest  of  misfortunes,  for  money  was 
gotten  easily  in  those  days,  and  was  valued  in  accordance. 

Towards  noon  that  same  morning  I  set  out  on  the  homeward 


THE  MAN  IN  THE  CLOAK. 


'33 


journey.  My  heart  was  light,  for  success  had  warmed  it,  whilst 
a  few  hours'  rest  had  wrought  appreciable  improvement  in  the 
condition  of  my  injured  head. 

Having  stowed  away  in  my  saddle-bags  the  presents  and  the 
money  I  had  won,  I  bid  adieu  to  mine  host  with  kindliness.  He, 
good  man,  setting  store  by  future  custom,  bid  me  God  speed, 
and  furthermore  begged  that  I  would  commend  him  to  the  love 
and  prayers  of  his  kinsman  at  Bridgwater. 

To  follow  the  king's  highway  'tis  a  hundred  and  forty  odd 
miles  to  London  from  that  town.  This  is  at  all  times  a  conse- 
quential journey,  yet  I  returned  thither  without  misadventure, 
a  whole  day  inside  the  limit,  Good  news  maketh  men  good 
couriers,  therefore  I  did  not  tarry  without  sufficient  reason,  and 
on  the  evening  of  the  seventh  day  following  my  departure,  with 
steaming  horse  and  mud-stained  coat,  I  rode  into  the  yard  of 
the  King's  Head. 

Ten  minutes  later  Master  Peter  had  a  substantial  supper  set 
before  me  in  the  cosy  parlor,  and  was  listening  eagerly  to  my 
adventures,  and  making  such  comment  thereon  as  he  thought 
befitted  the  occasion.  Mine  host  strained  his  ears  as  I  recounted 
my  deeds  in  the  gaming-house,  and  slapped  my  back  to  record 
his  appreciation  ;  tho'  this  was  certainly  ill-advised,  seeing  at 
that  instant  I  was  conveying  a  huge  forkful  of  beef  to  my  mouth ; 
wherefore  the  consequences  were  painful. 

"  Ods  bud,  lad,"  exclaimed  delighted  Peter,  "'pon  my  soul 
'tis  worthy  of  Bob  Bickers !  He,  he !  so  ye  fairly  beat  Perry 
Wilmot,  and  won  nigh  three  hundred  guineas?  Well  done, 
young  un,  say  I,  choicely  well  done,  I  swear.  But,  lad,  I  must 
take  care  on't  for  you,  as  ye  will  surely  lose  so  large  a  pile  if  ye 
carry  it  about.  Tell  me  who  was  there.  Didst  mark  a  little 
chap  with  a  squint  an'  a  pot  belly  ?  That's  my  lord  of  Tun- 
bridge  ;  the  biggest  rake  unhung.  One  night  at  my  little  place 
he  lost  twelve  thousand  at  Lansquenet,  and  'pon  honor  he 
wagered  his  wife's  jewels  next  night  and  lost  'em.  Night  fol- 
lowing, when  his  town  and  country  houses  were  gone,  he  staked 
his  wife  and  lost  her  too.  For  a  whole  week  she  belonged  to 
young  Tommy  Lunn,  and  then  my  lord  borrowed  money  from 
me  and  won  her  back.  And  I  fair  bibbed,  I  tell  thee,  when 
my  lady  came  back  into  his  arms  again,  'twas  that  affecting,  ay, 
and  so  did  the  whole  room  full.  After  that  his  luck  was  won- 
derful, and  he  won  back  all  his  belongings,  and  a  cheerful  sum 
besides.  '  God  bless  you  for  an  honest  man,'  said  he  to  me 
that  night  as  he  repaid  me  tenfold. 

"  Then  did  ye  perceive  a  gent  wi'  a  wry  neck,  in  a  blue  coat 


134  M7S TRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

and  drab  breeches  ?  He  ne'er  affects  aught  else.  That's  my 
lord  Buthbungle,  who  doth  possess  many  a  fine  cock.  May  I 
never  clap  eyes  on  better.  I  recall  how  one  day  he  boasted 
that  one  of  'em  was  the  best  bird  of  its  size  in  England.  I' 
faith  'twas  a  lively  pile  game  bantam,  yet  a  quiet  stranger 
chanced  to  be  by  and  overhear  his  bragging.  '  Pooh,  pooh! ' 
quo'  he,  '  call  ye  that  the  best  bird  in  England.  Tell  thee  what 
I'll  do.  I  will  e'en  wager  a  hundred  pounds  I  bring  two  to  beat 
it  in  ten  minutes.'  '  Done ! '  gleefully  cried  my  lord.  Gad- 
zooks  !  that  stranger  went  and  fetched  a  couple  of  birds  of  a 
similar  size,  then  set  'em  on  my  lord's.  '  Here,  I  say,  take  one 
off,  can't  you,  there's  two  against  it,'  called  out  my  lord  in  the 
twinkling  of  a  bedpost.  '  Not  likely,'  answered  t'other, '  I  prom- 
ised to  bring  two  to  beat  it,  and  here  I've  brought  'em,  and 
methinks  my  hundred  ain't  tar  off.'  'Twasn't  neither,  for  the 
company  adjudged  the  stranger  had  fairly  won  ;  and  that  stran- 
ger, let  me  tell  you,  was  Long  Bob  Bickers,  the  greatest  man 
that  ever  trod  this  earth." 

Enough  of  Master  Whipple.  Howbeit  he  set  forth  his 
eternal  reminiscences  in  so  picturesque  a  manner  that  he  scarce 
ever  failed  to  raise  a  laugh  for  his  reward.  Should  aught  arise 
out  of  the  common  course  of  daily  happenings,  my  very  good 
friend  was  always  able  to  patter  forth  examples  by  the  score; 
and  one  and  all  had  an  immediate  bearing  on  the  case. 

Eager  to  relate  my  success,  I  set  out  for  the  manor  directly 
the  meal  was  despatched.  I  had  not  seen  Mistress  Dorothy 
in  the  flesh  for  the  whole  week,  though  often  enough  in  imag- 
ination. Therefore  it  would  have  been  hard  to  find  a  more 
joyous  fellow  that  night  than  Master  Edward  Armstrong,  as  he 
stepped  out  briskly  through  the  darkness,  flushed  with  pleasure 
at  having  done  what  he  had  done.  He  remembered  quite  well 
how  the  maid  had  bid  him  go  and  accomplish  the  great  task. 
And  now  it  was  accomplished  his  heart  beat  high ;  he  had  his 
reward  in  mind.  Albeit  this  cherished  guerdon  was  but  an- 
other glance  from  those  peerless  eyes. 

To  talk  of  love,  and  then  to  laugh  at  it ;  to  think  of  love,  and 
then  to  scoff  at  it,  is  grave  lack  of  worldly  wisdom,  and  far 
greater  lack  of  understanding.  'Tis  the  very  salt  of  life  and 
the  surest  thing  to  flavor  it !  Maybe  I  oughtn't  to  speak  thus 
to  you  children,  but  with  far  more  decency  might  play  the  part 
of  sedate  preceptor,  and  shake  my  hoary  head  with  gravity  at 
your  youthful  amours,  without  heed  to  the  days  when  the  world 
and  I  were  younger. 

Kinsmen,  in  common  honesty  I  cannot  play  it.    So  I  prithee 


THE  MAN  IN  THE  CLOAK.  135 

do  not  curl  your  lips  at  one  who  is  old  enough  to  know,  or  hold 
him  guilty  of  mock  heroics.  Poets  may  lisp  rapturous  odes  to 
the  goddess  of  beauty,  and  malicious  philosophers  may  gibe 
and  remark  that  that  self-same  goddess  had  corns  on  her  feet ; 
yet,  woe  is  me,  nature  hath  given  me  the  midsummer  temper- 
ament of  the  poet,  though  my  hair  is  gray.  My  heart — no,  to 
be  correct,  the  heart  of  Master  Armstrong  (for  you  must  know 
it  was  a  joint  affair,  and  belonged  in  part  to  Master  Armstrong, 
gentleman,  and  in  part  to  Black  Ned,  thief)— was  a  chaos  of 
extravagant  delight.  It  overcame  the  lowering  shadows  of  the 
night  by  virtue  of  its  blissfulness,  and  caused  the  dark  heavens 
to  seem  a  cheerful  sight. 

I  dashed  up  the  front  steps  of  the  manor  three  at  a  time, 
and  Mistress  Dorothy  came  forward  to  meet  me,  and  her  eyes 
were  those  of  welcome. 

"  Here  is  Black  Ned  back  again,  papa,"  she  called  out  gayly 
to  the  knight. 

Then  I,  the  happiest  man  alive,  stumbled  backward  as  though 
a  man  had  struck  me  in  the  face.  I  recoiled,  a  chill  of  fear 
upon  my  heart,  from  her  eager  hands  of  greeting.  But  she 
laughed,  as  she  alone  could  laugh,  no  'sooner  than  the  word 
was  spoke,  and  I  heard  the  old  man  give  a  cry  of  satisfaction. 
Fortunately  I  had  the  luck  and  the  strength  of  mind  to  over- 
come my  pangs.  Thus  I  entered  the  sitting-room  smiling.  I 
found  the  knight  close  by  the  fire,  a  bold  array  of  bottles  and 
liquor  bowls  beside  his  elbow. 

"  Hola,  mon  ami !  "  he  cried,  his  solitary  orb  very  large  and 
bright.  "Back  again  already;  .and,  if  I  be  not  deceived,  thou 
hast  good  news." 

"  You've  said  a  soothful  thing,  sir  knight,"  said  I.  "  My  lord 
is  pleased  to  accept  the  terms  laid  down,  and  hath  promised  to 
attend  the  council." 

"  Good  lad,"  exclaimed  Sir  Nicholas,  rising  awkwardly  to  his 
feet  and  hobbling  towards  me  ;  "  I  must  have  thy  fist  for  that. 
The  work  thou  hast  wrought  for  the  cause  will  be  undoubtedly 
remembered.  Mon  Dieu !  we  are  hourly  sapping  the  strength 
of  the  King.  He  is  all  a  soldier,  is  my  lord ;  I've  been  beside 
him  in  Holland  when  he's  led  the  storming  party.  He  took  the 
eye  of  Turenne  many  a  time,  and  is  certainly  the  best  of  Eng- 
lish captains." 

"  Sir,"  said  his  daughter,  acquiescently  nodding  her  pretty 
head ;  "  there  is  no  one  else  worthy  to  tie  his  shoe  strings. 
My  lord  Feversham  is  a  mere  baby  by  comparison,  and  as  for 
Kirke  and  Trelawney,  bah  !  " 


136  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR  VI N. 

Her  demeanor  was  so  assured,  and  her  voice  so  utterly  con- 
temptuous, that  without  doubt  she  felt  deeply  upon  the  subject. 
"  Ned,  my  lad,"  I  soliloquized,  "of  a  surety  you  must  study 
every  book,  of  war  your  brains  will  let  you.  This  young  lady 
can  tell  more  of  such  matters  in  one  five  minutes  than  you  have 
ever  heard  of." 

"  There  is  ample  time  for  a  game  of  piquet,  lad,"  said  the 
knight,  "  and  you  can  give  all  particulars  whilst  we  play." 

As  a  preliminary,  he  drank  my  health  solemnly  three  times 
out  of  the  smoking  bowl,  and  bid  his  daughter  do  the  same, 
avowing  she  had  much  to  thank  me  for. 

'Twas  a  sight  to  see  her  purse  her  dainty  lips  and  just  let  the 
liquor  touch  them.  Yet  she  made  many  grimaces  as  she  did  so. 

"  Ugh,  poison  !  "  she  exclaimed.  And,  with  a  naughty  eye  on 
me,  she  allowed  herself  a  little  shiver,  and  hastily  clapped  down 
the  crock. 

"  Poison,  quotha  !  Dost  know,  impudence,  that  Prince  Condd 
swore  by  this  concoction  ?  An'  if  he  may  bib  it,  'tis  not  for 
the  likes  o'  you  to  abuse  it.  Poison,  indeed!  " 

The  soldier,  to  prove  the  profundity  of  this,  gulped  down 
another  bowlful,  then  settled  to  the  game. 

Two  minutes  later  I  had  begun  a  faithful  account  of  my 
adventures.  One  circumstance  had  puzzled  and  alarmed  me 
sore.  That  was  the  appearance  of  the  man  at  the  inn-yard, 
Bruton.  No  sooner  did  I  inform  Sir  Nicholas  of  the  fellow's 
bribe,  than  his  anxiety  and  mystification  were  deeper  even  than 
mine  own. 

"  I  do  not  like  the  sound  o'  that,  mon  frere,"  he  remarked 
uneasily.  "  Sure  the  conspiracy  is  known  ;  and  there's  rough 
times  ahead,  if  that's  the  case.  Ton  my  soul,  the  matter  wears 
an  ugly  look." 

The  knight  was  much  distressed  anent  it.  He  scratched  his 
powdered  wig  till  his  coat  became  like  a  miller's;  though  more 
he  pondered  on  the  matter  the  more  disturbed  he  grew  in  mind. 
Still,  the  nut  was  one  beyond  his  strength  of  cracking. 

"This  is  a  serious  affair,  and  must  be  laid  before  the  council. 
Our  chances  are  gravely  imperilled.  What  was  the  fellow  like? 
Cudgel  thy  recollection,  friend.  Was  he  tall  or  short ;  young  or 
old?  The  thing  must  be  bottomed,"  he  cried  excitedly. 

I  told  all  I  could  remember  about  the  man.  However,  the 
sum  total  of  my  recollection  was  extremely  meagre,  for,  wrapped 
up  as  he  had  been,  I  had  obtained  no  glimpse  of  the  fellow's 
features,  and  the  tight  envelopment  of  the  cloak  had  much  aided 
this  concealment. 


THE  MAN  IN  THE  CLOAK. 


137 


Now,  I  was  setting  forth  every  little  point  that  could  throw 
light  upon  it,  when  the  room  door  opened  noiselessly,  and  there 
walked  stealthily,  silently  in,  a  man  clad  in  a  dark  cloak.  And 
his  face  was  muffled  and  hid.  At  that  sight  I  felt  a  curious 
tightness  in  the  region  of  the  chest.  My  heart  began  to  beat 
much  quicker  than  it  had  a  right  to  do,  for  without  doubt  this 
was  the  covert  fellow  who  had  accosted  me  at  Bruton.  And  here 
he  was  before  us  without  a  word  of  warning,  in  the  identical 
hang-dog  fashion,  too.  My  eyes  were  rooted  to  this  spectre 
(what  else  could  it  be  ? ),  and  though  the  fire  and  candles  emitted 
a  clear,  broad  light,  my  knees  knocked  and  trembled,  such  was 
the  all-powerful  effect  of  this  man's  apparition.  The  knight 
looked  round,  and  saw  it  for  the  first  time.  "  What  the 

devil !  "  he  exclaimed,  yet,  being  so  taken  aback,  he  could 

get  no  further. 

The  pair  of  us,  quite  dumfounded,  sat  alternately  regarding 
each  other,  then  the  spectre.  By  this  it  had  stopped  midway 
behind  the  table  some  yards  distant.  It  halted  silently,  and 
turned  towards  us  two.  But  never  a  feature  of  its  face  was 
visible.  The  knight  and  I  had  begun  to  doubt  the  veracity  of 
our  eyes  and  senses,  when,  with  a  desperate  effort,  I  released 
my  tongue  from  my  roof  mouth,  whither  it  had  cleft  in  the 
paralysis  of  profound  astonishment,  and  gasped  out  some- 
how— 

"'Tis  he,  'tis  he  !     Zounds,  'tis  the  man  of  Bruton  !  " 

"  Is  it,  by  G — d  !  Then  woe  to  his  flesh  !  "  And  upon  the 
spot  the  old  gentleman,  being  vouchsafed  new  powers  of  speech 
and  action,  jumped  from  his  chair,  and  sent  card-table  and 
contents  rattling  in  the  grate.  His  eye  a  blaze  of  wrath,  he 
hopped  gingerly  yet  wondrous  rapid  to  the  Perillo  blade  grandly 
gleaming  on  the  wall  hard  by.  But  as  he  did  so,  a  trill  of 
laughter  came  from  the  dusky  folds  of  the  spectre's  garb,  and 
next  moment  the  archest  head  and  the  sauciest  eyes  that  ever 
man  did  see  were  thrust  therefrom. 

"  What  the  devil ! "  exclaimed  the  knight  again  ;  and  the 
sacred  sword  fell  from  his  grasp  and  dropped  a  thud  on  the 
carpet. 

Now,  'twixt  ourselves,  had  not  a  wholesome  conception  of 
good  manners  still  abided  with  me,  I  should  not  have  let  appeals 
to  one  devil  suffice,  but  must  have  enjoined  ten  thousand.  I 
felt  a  fool  at  that  moment,  and  doubtless  the  knight  shared  this 
emotion.  And  the  lady  said  never  a  word,  but  just  stood  quiv- 
ering with  mirth  ;  whilst  her  row  of  white  teeth  flashed  through 
her  rippling  lips,  as  they  sent  forth  peal  upon  peal  of  laughter. 


138  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

Once  more  her  father  sought  the  intervention  of  the  Evil  One, 
yet  directly  afterwards  he  shouted  out — 

"  Good  lack,  Ned,  do  you  come  and  see  the  hussy  !  She  hath 
gotten  on  my  riding-boots.  Egad,  she  hath  most  certainly  !  " 

I,  being  a  reprehensible  and  equally  impertinent  young  man, 
must  needs  come  forward  pretty  prompt  to  get  a  view  of  a  maid 
in  riding-boots.  This  impudence  of  mine  thoroughly  discon- 
certed her.  Forthwith  her  merriment  was  doffed  for  blushes 
and  all  manner  of  signals  of  modesty  distressed.  Thereupon, 
in  an  earnest  endeavor  to  so  coil  the  cloak  about  her  person 
that  our  prying  might  be  balked,  she  by  misadventure  let  slip 
one  corner  of  it,  and,  alack,  plump  before  the  unabashed  and 
rudely  staring  eyes  of  man,  a  pair  of  long  boots  were  revealed. 
And  atop  of  them  (if  I  dare  tell  it)  there  certainly  was  seen  a 
pair  of  horseman's  breeches  ! 

Sir  Nicholas  and  I  clapped  our  hands  and  made  the  rafters 
ring  with  our  guffaws,  tho'  presently  the  knight  held  surcease 
by  virtue  of  a  violent  choking,  whilst  I  forbore,  out  of  a  spirit 
of  pure  kindliness  towards  the  lady. 

Faith,  by  this  time  the  tortured  maid  was  ready  to  weep  with 
shame.  Yet  run  away  she  dared  not,  because  such  was  her 
plight  that,  had  she  ventured  to  stir  a  step,  the  whole  garment 
must  have  fallen  from  her  altogether.  'Twas  evident  she  had 
not  expected  us  to  peer  behind  her  cloak. 

Her  father  presently  overcame  his  malady  ;  then  merciless 
was  his  persecution.  The  maid,  scarlet-cheeked  and  tingling 
with  shame,  was  obliged  to  stand  passive  and  endure  it. 

"  Ods  wounds,  lad,  dost  see  her  coat  and  collar  ?  Heigh, 
ke.igh,  pink  me  if  ever  I  cocked  eyes  on  aught  so  funny  !  Why, 
ma  petite  demoiselle,  thy  neck  and  shoulders  doth  not  a  quarter 
fill  'em  ! " 

Hereupon  the  maid  having,  in  the  jealous  hiding  of  nether 
limbs,  by  inadvertence  left  upper  portions  open  to  the  public 
view,  sought  to  cover  her  slender  neck  and  sloping  shoulders. 
But  the  hapless  one  by  so  doing  exposed  those  tell-tale  boots 
again,  and  straightway  the  relentless  old  curmudgeon  beset 
her  in  a  style  that  cut  her  far  more  keenly. 

"  Donnerwetter,  what  massy  build,  young  man  !  What 
muscularity !  What  spread  of  chest  and  what  firm  strength  of 
ankle  !  What  a  grand  cavaliero  it  is  !  With  such  superb  phy- 
sique, thou  art  the  model  of  a  very  horse  guard.  None  o' 
your  raw-boned  pikemen.  And  oh,  Dorothy,  what  thews  thou 
hast,  and  what  sinews  !  What  arms,  to  be  sure  !  Dost  re- 
mark 'em,  Master  Armstrong?  Great,  ain't  they?  Ventre 


THE  MAN"  IN  THE  CLOAK.  139 

Saint  Gris,  they'd  give  stauncher  sword-sweeps  than  Abide-in- 
Me  Jenkins  himself  !  By  my  faith,  lass,  ye  might  cleave  the 
skulls  of  all  enemies  of  the  State  !  Certes,  we'll  make  you  a 
soldier  after  this  revelation.  Bid  the  whole  continent  of  Eu- 
rope beware  !  Verily,  here  is  a  man  at  arms  mightier  than 
threescore  rolled  into  one." 

The  young  lady  dared  not  look  at  either  the  one  or  the  other 
of  us,  so  she  kept  her  gaze  averted ;  and  before  the  end  arrived 
the  most  defiant  of  daughters  was  so  far  humbled  as  to  plead — 

"  Don't,  father;  please  don't." 

Still  the  knight  was  pitiless,  and  as  a  climax,  he  went  close 
to  her  and  proffered  his  snuff-box. 

"  Here  thou  art,  good  master.     Take  one  dip,  and  no  more." 

She  refused  this  doubtful  offering,  but  next  moment  the 
crafty  knight  cunningly  and  neatly  grabbed  the  cloak  com- 
pletely from  her  form.  But  then,  like  lightning,  the  maiden, 
unencumbered,  dodged  under  his  arm,  and  bounded  through 
the  open  door. 

Ten  minutes  later  she  returned  in  the  garb  of  respectability. 
Her  sire  greeted  her  with  a  sermon,  and  the  text  was  "  De- 
cency." The  beginning  she  suffered  with-  lamblike  meekness  ; 
but  the  knight,  trading  on  her  non-resistance,  hammered  his 
theme  with  such  indelicate  zest  that  I  was  stung  to  compunc- 
tion for  my  own  unkind  behavior.  So  said  I,  to  exonerate  my- 
self, and  to  divert  the  discourse  of  this  purist — 

"  Mistress,  I  beg  your  pardon." 

Despite  my  interruption  the  knight  still  pursued  his  homily, 
till  at  last  his  volubility  received  an  unexpected  check.  Sud- 
denly the  erring  one  tossed  up  her  head. 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  turning  on  her  sermonizing  sire,  very  fierce 
and  haughty,  "  I'll  come  back  when  you're  gone  to  sleep  ;  "  and 
the  quick-spirited  creature  sprang  from  her  chair,  threw  her 
astounded  parent  a  sarcastic  curtsey,  and  sailed  from  the  room. 

Now  Sir  Nicholas  was  far  too  pachydermatous  to  feel  the 
full  significance  of  this.  He  was  not  of  a  sufficiently  fine 
mental  fibre  to  be  hurt  by  the  tongue  alone;  a  retort  only  ap- 
pealed to  him  when  driven  homeward  by  the  fist.  But  what 
he  did  feel  was,  that  his  authority  was  waning.  This  disturbed 
his  peace  of  mind,  for  said  he,  after  ladling  a  cargo  of  snuff  to 
his  nostrils — 

"  By  God  !  she  gets  a  nice  young  Jezebel !  You  saw  her, 
Ned,  my  lad — you  saw  her !  Fine  thing  this,  at  my  time  of 
life.  But,  by  all  the  imps  in  Hades,  sooner  than  I'll  be  served 
so  by  a  chit  of  a  girl,  I'll  pound  her  to  a  jelly  !  " 


1 40  MIS  TRESS  D  OR  O  TH  Y  MA  R  VIN. 

Then  his  worship  took  refuge  in  the  useful  word  that  bears 
the  name  of  "damn,"  and  in  a  hundred  others  of  a  kindred 
nature. 

Fortunately  the  old  knight's  ire  soon  spent  itself,  whereupon 
we  resumed  the  game.  Nevertheless  he  continued  to  imbibe 
with  freedom,  and  after  winning  ten  guineas  the  leather-livered 
warrior  fell  fast  asleep — doubtless  to  accommodate  his  daugh- 
ter. Strange  to  say,  ere  he  had  discharged  his  second  snore, 
the  door  was  softly  opened,  and  Mistress  Dorothy  crept  in 
silent  as  a  mouse.  Her  face  wore  a  look  of  comical  humility. 

"  Master  Armstrong,"  she  whispered  to  me  contritely,  "what 
a  fiery-headed  fool  I  am.  One  minute  I  insult  my  betters,  and 
the  next  I'm  in  sackcloth  and  ashes  for  my  impudence.  But 
oh,  sir,  I've  got  such  a  temper !  I  expect  my  much-tried 
father,  patient  man,  will  be  half  killing  me  one  of  these  fine 
mornings." 

At  that  she  stole  up  to  her  ugly  parent's  chair,  and,  laugh- 
ingly, but  as  a  matter  of  necessity,  very  lightly  kissed  the 
slumberer.  This  daring  feat  successfully  accomplished,  she 
came  and  sat  beside  me. 

"  Dost  know,  sir,"  she  said  gayly,  "  that  these  great  men  are 
very  difficult  to  live  with  ?  But  I  suppose  it  behoves  common 
mortals  to  put  up  with  their  eccentricities  without  complaint. 
My  old  dad  hath  been  so  hard  on  me  sometimes,  that  I've  felt 
a  longing  to  drop  a  snail  in  his  punch,  or  a  black  beetle  down 
his  back.  Sooth !  I  once  did  pin  a  worm  in  his  wig,  but, 
Master  Ned,  I  have  ne'er  been  tempted  to  do  so  since/' 

Afterwards  this  madcap  said  nothing  for  a  time,  and  did 
nothing  either,  except  to  look  provokingly  pretty.  But  'twas 
plain  she  had  something  serious  to  say,  because  she  began  to 
display  anxiety,  and  several  times  glanced  nervously  at  me. 

"  Master  Armstrong,"  at  last  she  said  timidly,  yet  giving  me 
the  reward  from  her  eyes  I  had  counted  on,  "  I  am  filled  \\ith 
gratitude  for  what  thou  hast  done.  I  know  not  how  to  thank 
thee,  thou  art  so  kind,  and  so  very  brave." 

This  little  speech  was  softly  given,  and  with  a  delicious  em- 
barrassment. It  set  me  more  at  ease,  and  my  tongue  became 
busy  in  protesting  my  unworthiness.  After  that  I  gathered 
pluck  enough  to  ask  what  I  had  so  long  desired,  which  was — 

"  Wouldst  tell  me,  mistress,  how  thou  wert  so  able-  to  deceive 
me  by  thy  masquerading  ?  " 

She  dropped  her  head,  and  spoke  no  word  for  a  minute  or 
two,  then  answered  doubtfully — 

"  Perhaps  I  ought  to  tell  you,  sir,  or  perhaps  I  ought  not.     I 


THE  MAN  IN  THE  CLOAK,  IAI 

shall  show  myself  an  ingrate  if  I  tell  all,  yet  if  I  don't,  you  and 
papa  will  be  much  exercised  in  mind.  What  shall  I  do  ?  " 

She  remained  undecided  till  I  besought  her  once  more, 
whereupon  she  replied — 

"  I  am  bound,  sir,  to  prove  myself  oblivious  of  benefits,  and 
very  suspicious  of  your  honor  ;  yet,  if  you  must  learn,  listen. 
The  night  I  persuaded  Sir  Nicholas  to  let  you  ride  to  London 
in  his  stead,  and  gave  the  letter  into  your  keeping,  within  an 
hour  of  your  going  hence  he  became  woefully  uneasy  in  his 
mind.  He  began  to  think  he  had  done  wrong  in  confiding  the 
letter  out  of  his  own  charge,  and  declared  his  honor  was  griev- 
ously imperilled.  And  every  minute  he  grew  more  scared,  and 
imagined  all  manner  of  fearsome  adventures  befalling  it,  and 
thee.  And,  oh  !  forgive  him,  sir,  and  me  for  the  recounting  of 
it ;  he  declared  he  had  no  proof  you  were  a  true  man,  and 
that  you  might  betray  your  trust.  He  got  cruelly  excited,  and 
worked  himself  into  a  fever  of  anxiety,  and  all  the  time  became 
more  convinced  that  he  had  compassed  a  wicked  thing.  He 
continued  speculating  as  to  whether  you  would  stand  by  your 
word,  till  at  last  he  declared  he  should  ride  after  you  on  the 
morrow,  and  deliver  it  himself,  otherwise  he  could  not  rest  in 
peace. 

"  But,  just  then,  Master  Armstrong,  his  vexation  of  spirit 
brought  on  one  of  his  worst  attacks.  He  roared  with  pain, 
cursed  everything,  and  reviled  me  for  my  share  in  the  business. 
He  hath  ne'er  sworn  at  me  like  he  did  that  night;  he  said  I'd 
ruined  him,  for  now  this  attack  had  come,  'twas  impossible  for 
him  to  pursue  you ;  and  in  his  wildness  he  accounted  this  as 
one  of  the  devil's  machinations  to  thwart  him  in  the  prevention 
of  his  ruin.  His  pain  increased,  and  as  it  did  so  he  drank 
deeper,  vainly  hoping  that  liquor  would  relieve  his  agony.  His 
ravings  were  cruel ;  I  shudder  for  the  words  he  hurled  at  me. 
And  methought  I  had  acted  for  the  best.  He  went  nearly  mad, 
and  the  more  he  drank,  the  worse  became  his  state,  till  at  last 
I  tugged  the  liquor  from  him,  though  twice  he  struck  me  with 
his  fists." 

Hereat  methinks  her  eyes  grew  wet ;  yet  she  swiftly  turned 
away  her  head,  so  that,  even  if  they  did,  she  hid  her  weakness. 

"  Next  the  foam  came  on  his  lips,"  she  said.  "  But  still  he 
screamed  that  I  alone  had  caused  his  downfall.  Then  I  got 
frightened,  and  called  the  servants,  and  they  carried  him  to 
bed,  tho'  all  night  long  he  lay  moaning  and  coughing  and 
swearing,  and  crying  out  he  was  undone.  He  would  not  have 
me  approach  his  side,  but  thrust  me  away  every  time  I  neared 
10 


I42  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

him.  I  never  left  him,  though,  till  morning,  and  did  my  best, 
poor  man,  to  soothe  his  pain  of  mind  and  body.  Yet,  when  I 
applied  cool  bandages  to  his  head,  I  had  to  slip  behind  the 
curtain  for  fear  he'd  see  me.  He  ne'er  ceased  to  rave  through- 
out the  night,  and  I  first  did  pray  that  God  might  spare  him, 
then  tried  remedies.  Oh,  I  shall  ne'er  forget  that  awful  time  !  " 

Her  face  went  livid  at  the  recollection. 

"  About  the  hour  of  dawn,"  she  continued,  "  I  had  a  sicken- 
ing fear.  Master  Armstrong,  I  began  to  wonder  what  would 
ensue  should  you  play  the  traitor.  Please  forgive  those 
speculations ! " 

She  quickly  turned  towards  me,  and  I  saw  in  her  eyes  a 
profound  appeal,  and  that  even  her  neck  was  crimson.  I 
made  haste  to  grant  this  prayer,  whereat  she  went  on. 

"  Had  you  been  one,  I  knew  'twould  surely  kill  him ;  and 
'twas  I  alone  who  had  caused  you  to  take  the  missive.  This 
horrid  dread  grew  hourly  greater.  I  could  not  get  out  of  my 
head  that,  after  all,  you  might  not  be  a  true  man,  and  I  would 
have  given  aught  then  to  have  recalled  my  evening's  action. 
Soon  I  felt  a  puissant  desire  to  do  something  to  save  my  father, 
by  averting  any  threatened  staining  of  his  honor ;  and  I  e'en 
made  up  my  mind  to  do  it — ay,  but  what?  There  was  nought 
I  could  do.  Sir  Nicholas  was  far  too  ill  to  be  left  for  any  length 
of  time  with  only  the  servants  to  attend  him.  Besides,  you 
were  fast  speeding  from  my  reach,  whilst  I  had  no  notion  of 
your  whereabouts.  Verily  the  case  was  almost  hopeless  ;  but, 
bad  as  it  was,  I  did  not  give  way  to  despair,  which  dear  father 
says  is  a  word  specially  made  for  cowards.  So  I  thought  and 
thought  till  I  nigh  split  mine  head  with  thinking.  Never  before 
have  I  cudgelled  my  brains  so  sorely,  because  I  decided,  come 
what  might,  to  satisfy  my  terrors.  I  would  learn  for  myself 
whether  you  were  an  honorable  man. 

"  I  had  but  one  fact  to  assist  me.  This  arose  through  hear- 
ing you  say  you  would  not  tarry  to  dine  till  you  had  arrived  at 
Bruton.  Bit  by  bit  my  plan  was  pieced  together.  No  time  was 
wasted  neither,  for  'twas  very  patent  I  must  take  prompt  action. 
I  had  not  a  minute  to  fritter;  not  even  time  for  breakfast. 
First,  I  rummaged  out  the  smallest  suit  of  clothes  I  could  lay 
my  hands  on.  It  was  a  very  old  one,  which  papa  had  worn 
when  a  lad.  Next,  I  took  a  dark  riding-cloak  of  his  also  (miles 
too  big),  which  was  quite  easy  to  gather  about  my  person  so 
as  to  nearly  hide  it  altogether.  Having  thus  attired  myself,  I 
donned  his  riding-boots.  These  I  had  to  stuff  with  wool  to 
keep  them  on  my  feet.  Perhaps,  Master  Ned,  you  will  now 


THE  MAN  IN  THE  CLOAK.  143 

understand  I  had  disguise  enough  to  deceive  folks.  Without 
leaving  a  word  behind,  I  saddled  Wallenstein,  as  none  of  the 
others  were  fit  for  service,  and  ne'er  drew  rein  till  I  had 
discovered  you  at  Bruton,  whence  I  arrived  twenty  minutes  ere 
you  went  forward  on  your  way.  I  waited  till  you  were  ready  to 
start,  and  then  tempted  you  (as  you  know)  with  a  bag  of  gold 
I  had  brought  for  the  purpose.  I  found  you  not  wanting,  but 
true  as  steel,  thank  God !  And,  oh,  sir,  forgive  me,  I  beseech 
thee  !  " 

When  I  heard  these  words,  I  felt  for  all  the  world  like  a  man 
must  feel  when  he  sits,  candle  in  hand,  upon  an  uncovered 
keg  of  gunpowder.  One  stray  spark,  and  his  life  is  lost ;  one 
stray  word,  and  so  is  my  reputation.  What  had  I  done  the 
afternoon  she  had  accosted  me  ?  I  had  used  savage  threats, 
and  worse,  a  thousand  times,  I  had  shown  my  true  colors,  arid 
Jiad  half  revealed  to  her  my  real  vocation.  Now  it  was  my 
turn  to  do  something,  else  I  must  for  ever  appear  to  her  a 
rogue  and  trickster. 

in  supreme  moments  some  of  us  may  now  and  then  display 
acute  intelligence.  Luckily,  I  kept  cool.  I  knew  promptitude 
was  imperative,  and  therefore  without  delay  I  put  my  hand  in 
my  pocket.  Oh,  joy  !  there  reposed  the  bag  unopened  and  un- 
touched. Instantly  I  whipped  it  out  and  laid  it  on  the  table, 
exclaiming  airily — 

"  Mistress,  you  adjudged  me  a  dirty  rogue  to  steal  your  gold. 
But,  'pon  my  life,  methought  I  was  surely  drawing  the  teeth 
of  a  wicked  viper  who  went  about  tempting  honest  men.  So, 
thinks  I,  you  shall  no  longer  have  the  means,  you  knave,  to 
seduce,  with  such  a  tool,  others  from  the  path  of  virtue.  Thus 
it  came  about  that  I  snatched  it  from  you,  and  have  ever  since 
desired  to  give  it  to  the  first  deserving  poor  man  I  might  chance 
to  meet." 

This  was  the  biggest  lie  to  which  I  ever  lent  my  tongue.  God 
forgive  it!  Upon  uttering  this  atrocious  falsehood,  I  went  hot 
and  cold  (and  well  I  might)  at  intervals.  Still,  next  moment  I 
was  conscious  of  a  throb  of  joy,  for  the  maid  no  more  perceived 
the  depth  of  this  duplicity,  or  the  still  greater  depth  of  the  man 
before  her,  than  she  divined  my  jocular  laugh  was  the  hollowest 
she  had  ever  heard.  And  the  knight  still  slept.  Happily  for  me 
the  danger  was  safely  passed,  whereupon  I  inquired  how  she 
came  back  again. 

"  Why,  sir,  as  soon  as  you  went  your  way,  I  went  mine,  know- 
ing well  that  I  need  not  fear.  Yet,  mind  you,  sir,  I  was  devoutly 
thankful  to  flee  from  you,  as  I  was  much  frightened  at  your 


1 44  MIS  TRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VI N. 

anger.  I  reached  home  an  hour  after  dark.  I  found  dear 
father  mending  somewhat;  and  tho'  I  strongly  pooh-poohed  his 
fears,  I  concealed  from  him  my  errand." 

"  What !  "  said  I.  "  You  mean  to  say  you  touched  no  food 
all  day,  and  also  rode  along  these  lonesome  lanes  after  night- 
fall, though  so  many  robbers,  highwaymen,  and  footpads  are 
abroad  ;  and  sat  in  the  saddle  during  a  fifty  miles'  journey,  and 
only  once  left  it  for  half  an  hour  ?  " 

"  That  is  so,  Master  Armstrong ;  and  I  could  hardly  move 
for  three  days  after,  I  was  so  stiff  and  sore.  Also,  I  may  tell 
you,  sir,  I  sometimes  trembled  at  the  rustling  leaves ;  but  my 
heart  was  blither  than  a  summer's  day,  because  I  knew  that 
father's  fears  and  mine  were  groundless." 

"  Yet,  why  could  you  not  stay  the  night,  and  get  some  food 
and  rest  ere  you  made  the  homeward  journey  ?  "  I  asked,  still 
marvelling  at  her  splendid  courage  and  endurance. 

"  Poor  father  was  so  very  ill,"  she  answered  simply. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

TOBE  HANCOCK   SPEAKS  HIS  MIND. 

THE  knight  still  slumbered  with  noisy  resolution,  therefore 
we  two  conversed  for  a  lengthy  time. 

"  Master  Armstrong,"  eagerly  besought  the  great-hearted 
maid,  "  please  tell  me  of  your  adventures  on  the  way,  and  how 
my  lord  received  the  missive.  I  lost  your  narrative  by  slip- 
ping out  of  the  room  to  play  the  part  of  the  '  Man  of  Bruton.' " 

In  duty  bound  I  was  compelled  to  do  so.  'Twas  exhilarating 
to  see  her  ardor  as  I  recalled  the  story  of  my  strange  adventures, 
and  to  watch  the  rapture  in  her  eyes  as  I  told  of  my  victory  over 
the  redoubted  Perry  Wilmot,  and  recounted  the  lawless  doings 
of  the  Bonaventors. 

"  Master  Ned,"  said  she  again,  her  face  truly  splendid  in  its 
animation,  "  I  wish  I  were  a  man,  and  as  brave  as  thee." 

And  to  see  it  so  was  a  greater  recompense  than  I  had  dared 
to  hope  for. 

It  was  within  five  minutes  of  midnight  ere  I  walked  into  the 
little  parlor  at  the  King's  Head,  and  found  my  friend  Pete,  with 
his  pipe  and  black  jack  consoling  him  for  the  labor  of  the  day. 
He  coolly  eyed  me  as  I  entered,  and  half  smiled  to  himself  when 


TOBE  HANCOCK  SPEAKS  HIS  MIND.  145 

he  heard  ^my  elastic  step,  and  saw  my  cheeks  flushed,  my  visage 
radiant,  and  my  head  cocked  up  in  the  air. 

"  Ods  boots,  young  man,"  quoth  he,  "  it  runs  in  my  mind  that 
matters  are  coming  to  a  woeful  pass  wi'  you.  Of  late  I  have 
put  two  and  two  together  upon  the  subject.  What  means  this 
flying  out  o'  nights,  this  sprightly  demeanor,  this  sad  neglect 
of  business,  this  regular  donning  of  Sunday  garments?  Shall 
I  tell  you  ?  This  noddle  o'  mine  hath  fathomed  deeper  mys- 
teries. There  is  a  woman  at  the  bottom  on't.  You'll  get  no 
good  by  them — take  my  word  for  that.  Oft  have  I  told  you 
they  are  the  devil's  creation.  The  very  best  woman  I  ever 
knew  was  a  Charing  vintner's  daughter,  and,  man  alive !  she 
eventually  came  to  be  hanged  as  a  common  cutpurse." 

Hereupon  mine  host  removed  his  pipe-stem  from  between  his 
teeth,  waved  it  in  my  direction,  and  solemnly  said,  "  Damn  the 
women  ! " 

With  the  delivery  of  this  pious  ejaculation  he  blinked  in  his 
owlish  fashion,  and  proceeded  to  prove  the  fittingness  of  the 
malediction.  He  summoned  scores  of  incidents  out  of  his  ex- 
perience ;  but  none  the  less  I  was  disgusted,  and  debated  the 
point  staunchly.  However,  in  despite  'of  this,  he  still  abided 
by  his  warning  that  I  must  entirely  shun  the  sex. 

Next  morning  I  betook  myself  to  Chilverley,  to  dispose  of  the 
presents  ;  tho'  I  was  beset  by  much  misgiving,  for  my  previous 
reception  had  not  faded  from  my  memory.  At  the  busiest  of 
times  the  village  is  sleepy,  the  villagers  taking  life  serenely,  and 
scarce  ever  moving  faster  than  a  jog-trot  through  it.  The  in- 
habitants numbered  very  few,  and  I  trusted  to  them  not  recog- 
nizing me.  Perhaps  I  was  ill-advised  to  venture  there  in  day- 
light ;  but,  straightforwardly  speaking,  I  was  determined  not  to 
disappoint  the  knight  of  his  piquet,  as  I  must  have  done  had  I 
come  at  eventide. 

As  I  arrived  within  sight  and  earshot  of  the  blacksmith's 
forge,  a  series  of  howls  and  wailings  disturbed  the  wonted  still- 
ness of  the  hamlet.  The  cause  of  this  was  not  far  to  seek,  for 
before  the  door  I  beheld  Master  Hancock,  one  hand  holding 
the  neckband  of  his  youthful  'prentice,  whilst  the  other  was 
administering  a  cudgelling.  Thus  zealously  occupied,  he 
heeded  not  my  presence,  but  continued  to  instil  some  belated 
Christian  principle  into  the  froward  youth. 

In  time  he  ceased  to  ply  the  staff,  yet,  jerkin  still  in  hand, 
he  went  on,  without  a  trace  of  anger  in  his  voice,  to  expound  to 
the  whimpering  penitent  the  error  of  his  courses.  This  admon- 
ishment bristled  with  Bible  precept,  intended  for  future  conduct 


14.6  MISTRESS  DORO THY.  MAR  VIN. 

and  wellbeing ;  and  bore  more  particularly  upon  the  convey- 
ance of  false  witness  and  the  disregard  of  truth.  The  lad's 
blubbering  was  not  subdued  till  Tobe  let  go  his  hold,  where- 
upon he  was  glad  to  run  inside  and  resume  the  blowing  of  the 
bellows.  Then  the  blacksmith  turned  and  noticed  me. 

"Thickee  there  bwoy's  nuff  tii  drive  me  mazed!  "  said  he. 
"  'E  hath  more  thort,  I  rackon,  vor  a  cudgel  than  pious  exhor- 
tation ;  'et  tha  well  baying  ov  iz  zoul  shan't  zuffer  vor  tha 
laikes  o'  thickee  matter.  Du  ee  bide  a  minit,  lad,  an'  I'll  tellee 
zummat." 

These  last  words  he  spoke  as  though  possessed  of  sudden 
recollection.  Ere  I  could  reply,  he  disappeared  through  the 
inlet,  and  returned  with  a  bulky  bag  in  his  hand  long  before  I 
had  ceased  to  wonder  at  his  actions. 

"  Mebbee,  Ned,"  he  said  earnestly,  "  I  wor  rayther  hasty 
loike  t'other  nite.-  I've  thort  'bout  'ee  mor'n  wance.  I  knaw 
'e  nobbut  nor  a  gert  thief,  'et,  lad,  whoy  cudden  yii  tarn  honest 
man  agwaine  ?  Now  thease  yer  monies  will  'elp  'ee  tii  goa  tii 
furren  pairts  an'  start  vresh.  An'  yii  neddent  rob  volks  theer, 
lad.  I've  heerd  zay  ov  biitivul  lands  acrass  tha  zee,  wheer  tha 
zuggar  and  tha  backy  grow'th,  an'  tez  zunny  arl  tha  days  ov 
tha  yeer.  Bide  not  r  Zummerzet  'nother  week.  Twidden  be 
raight  vor  tii  dii't.  Tack  et  wi  yii,  an'  goa  an'  get  honest." 

The  well-meaning  fellow  pressed  the  gold  eagerly  upon  me. 
By  the  rapidity  of  his  gestures,  I  guessed  how  much  I  had  been 
in  his  mind  of  late.  My  heart  grew  cold  as  my  fingers  closed 
upon  the  bag,  for  then  I  felt  the  full  import  of  this  counsel. 
How  could  I  leave  Somerset,  even  to  become  honest,  with  Mis- 
tress Dorothy  Marvin  still  in  it,  and  hopes  of  vengeance  ex- 
panding in  my  breast  ?  A  month  ago  I  might  have  done  so, 
yet  now  I  was  no  longer  mine  own  master.  I  was  like  the  fly 
in  the  spider's  web ;  only  my  fetters  were  formed  by  a  web  of 
strange  events.  Therefore,  at  this  gracious  offer,  I  sighed  and 
shook  my  head. 

"  I  cannot  leave  the  county  of  my  birth,  Tobe,"  I  said,  un- 
comfortably tremorous. 

"  Whoy  ? "  he  asked  sharply,  his  eyes  fixed  on  my  face. 

"  Circumstances  have  arisen  which  ere  long  will  change  the 
affairs  of  the  whole  nation,  and  already  I  am  deeply  embroiled. 
No,  good  friend,  I  must  not  take  ship  for  foreign  parts.  My 
duty  lies  in  England — you  forget  my  father's  death." 

Alack  !  1  knew  this  was  only  half  the  truth,  and  for  that 
reason  I  could  not  have  looked  at  the  blacksmith  squarely. 
He  never  took  his  gaze  from  me,  and  the  guilty  and  confused 


TO  BE  HANCOCK  SPEAKS  HIS  MIND.  147 

way  I  answered  him  was  enough  for  him  to  mistrust  my  utter- 
ance. His  countenance  was  one  of  sorrow,  as  he  replied  with 
lowered  voice — 

"  Now,  dawnt  'ee  zay  zo.  Thy  veace  tell'th  me  yii  dezave  a 
vrend.  Tez  vor  tha  welfare  ov  thy  mother  an'  thyzel.  She 
hath  tiike  on  cruel  awver  thy  knavery,  I  can  tell  'ee.  Thy  vather 
wuz  aveared  ov  God,  an'  zet  gert  store  by  righteousness. 
Yii  midden  stay,  Ned,  in  the  midst  o'  thy  zin." 

As  in  the  days  when  war  and  its  devilry  had  not  come  among 
us,  so  Tobe  talked  long  and  patiently,  trying  hard — very  hard, 
by  force  of  dissertation,  to  turn  my  mind  towards  virtue.  The 
length  and  the  breadth  of  the  matter  was,  that  I  was  truly 
ashamed  of  my  livelihood,  and  would  have  gladly  renounced  it, 
Jiad  better  prospects  appeared.  But  it  was  impossible  to  live 
honestly  now  in  my  native  shire.  No  Christian  calling  was 
open  to  an  outlaw ;  and  a  man  must  live.  Nor  was  Tobe's 
reasoning  lost  upon  me.  I  sincerely  wished  to  carry  out  his 
desires,  yet  how  vain  those  wishes  were,  for  there  were  pictures 
of  a  laughing  maid  with  wondrous  eyes,  and  the  grim  gibbet  of 
the  crossways  in  my  brain.  Thus  the  only  thing  left  to  do  was 
to  growl  at  Fate,  like  all  weak  creatures,  who  e'en  spend  more 
time  and  energy  bewailing  fortune  than  would  serve  to  set  their 
affairs  to  rights.  Master  Hancock  persevered  till  he  saw  how 
fruitless  his  endeavors  were  like  to  be ;  then  steadily  his  anger 
rose.  And  as  it  came  to  the  surface  his  tongue  loosened,  and 
burst  forth  in  vituperation. 

"  Ah,  Tobe,"  said  I  bitterly,  "  'tis  very  pretty  to  prate  about 
honesty  and  righteousness,  you  that  have  ever  had  a  sound  roof 
and  a  full  cupboard  !  Do  but  come  to  be  hunted  like  a  fox, 
with  no  place  of  refuge  to  run  to  for  your  life,  and  then  see 
how  you'll  abide  by  the  doctrines  of  prosperity." 

'Twas  an  unkind  and  discreditable  speech  ;  but,  somehow, 
his  words  had  stung,  and  I,  being  hurt  in  spirit,  was,  for  the 
moment,  unmindful  for  the  feelings  of  the  blacksmith.  At  my 
retort  the  smouldering  anger  of  the  man  blazed  out  in  sudden 
fury.  'Twas  the  fanatic  peeping  thro'  his  sober  self,  and  I 
trembled  at  it.'  His  visage  went  all  thundery,  his  gray  eyes 
stormy  and  foreboding  as  the  tempest ;  and  a  chill  crept  in  my 
limbs  as  I  saw  this  strong  man's  wrath. 

"  Zo,  Ned,"  he  snarled,  his  lips  drawn  stern  and  tight,  "  I 
zay  thee'rt  a  cur,  even  as  I  zed  avoretime." 

I  had  dismounted,  and  now  stood  before  him  silent,  with  no 
words  left  to  speak  in  self-defence,  to  stay  the  torrent  of  his 
anger. 


1 48  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

"  Ye  are  Jan  Armstrong's  zon,"  he  continued ;  "oh,  tha  pity 
ov  et !  Weer  be  thy  manliness  an'  courage  ?  Yii  zhame  thy 
vather." 

He  thrust  his  big  brown  fist  hard  by  my  cheek,  and  I  drew 
away  from  it  affrighted.  The  passion  of  his  features  kept 
mounting  higher.  Quite  suddenly,  however,  this  harsh  de- 
meanor was  forgotten,  as  a  shrill  scream  of  terror  sounded  close 
at  hand. 

The  cause  of  it  was  soon  apparent,  for,  as  we  turned  our  eyes 
to  the  bridge,  we  saw  a  small  girl  standing  thereon,  wringing 
her  hands,  and  gazing  horror-stricken  into  the  rushing  water. 
We  ran  straightway  thither,  and  there  beheld  a  child,  being 
tossed  on  the  surface  of  the  stream.  Ere  1  could  move,  Tobias 
had  flung  aside  his  leathern  apron,  and  had  plunged  into  the 
swirling  current.  He  soon  had  the  mute  babe  safe.  'Twas 
the  third  time  it  came  to  the  top  that  the  blacksmith  seized  it 
with  one  hand,  and  held  it  above  the  crest  of  the  stream  that 
air  might  find  way  to  its  puny  half  dead  body.  With  the  other 
he  struck  for  the  steep  bank,  and  scrambled  out  of  the  brawling 
water,  yet  bore  the  child  with  tenderness.  The  wet  running 
from  him,  and  the  little  creature  hugged  to  his  breast,  he  set 
off  at  a  trot  down  the  road,  the  sister,  with  sobs  now  instead  of 
screams,  pattering  after  him. 

I  stood  stock-still  for  a  full  minute  after  the  three  of  them 
turned  the  corner.  Thereupon  I  took  Joe's  bridle  and  led  him 
to  the  farm.  I  had  not  the  heart  to  tarry  for  Tobe's  return, 
though  the  poems  of  John  Milton  were  in  my  pocket.  Again, 
as  I  neared  the  outer  gate  of  the  homestead,  I  halted,  uncertain 
whether  to  go  farther,  for  just  then  I  felt  baser  and  more  sinful 
than  ever  I  had  done  before.  Albeit  this  backwardness  was 
sufficiently  overcome  to  let  me  cross  the  field  and  rickyard  and 
put  my  horse  up  in  the  stable.  The  farm  hands  stared  at  me 
perplexed,  and  wondered  much  at  the  boldness  of  this  stranger, 
who  came  with  such  assurance  ;  although  they  recognized  me 
not,  neither  did  they  ask  questions,  but  merely  scratched  their 
country  polls  and  ceased  to  puzzle  them. 

The  family  were  seated  at  the  midday  meal  as  I  entered.  At 
sight  of  me,  mother's  face  went  strangely  white.  The  first  thing 
I  did  was  to  go  and  kiss  her,  and  also  at  the  time  I  bent  over 
her  took  the  chance  to  whisper,  "  Do  they  know  all  ? " 

She  shook  her  head.  Therefore  I  embraced  my  brother  and 
sister  less  uneasily,  now  that  I  knew  they  were  ignorant  of  my 
shame.  I  shared  the  meal  with  them,  but  John  and  Betty, 
though  they  received  no  aid  from  mother,  questioned  me  again, 


TOBE  HANCOCK  SPEAKS  HIS  MIND.  149 

as  was  only  natural,  concerning  the  nature  of  my  calling.  So 
it  befell  that  they  were  first  to  learn  my  crimes  from  my  own 
lips  ;  because  in  face  of  what  mother  knew,  I  dared  not  try  to 
evade  them  in  her  presence. 

"  Have  I  not  already  told  you  I  am  Black  Ned  the  highway- 
man ?  "  I  answered,  this  time  without  any  signs  of  mirth  soever. 
And,  in  the  absence  of  it,  they  turned  to  mother,  and  saw  tears 
trickling  down  her  face.  At  that  they  turned  back  their  eyes  to 
me,  and  saw  mine  glum  and  miserable.  By  this  they  were  aware 
'twas  no  jest,  but  unutterable  truth.  No  more  words  passed 
between  us.  Both  of  them  looked  each  towards  the  other,  seem- 
ingly devoid  of  purpose,  unless  'twas  to  divine  the  effect  of  this 
revelation.  Shortly  afterwards  they  stole  glances  at  mother, 
who  still  wept  in  silence,  and  remarking  this,  Betty  whose  light- 
heartedness  was  fled,  also  began  to  cry  noiselessly,  and  John, 
who  was  his  father's  son,  had  a  look  in  his  eyes  more  terrible 
than  Tobe  Hancock's.  Not  one  of  them  gave  a  glance  to  me, 
but  watched  each  other  in  an  aimless  way. 

I  was  sitting  in  my  dead  father's  chair,  in  his  place  at  the 
table-head  ;  and  God  would  not  let  m.e  rest  there.  I  jumped 
up  out  of  it,  took  my  hat  off  the  peg,  and  crossed  the  threshold 
of  my  father's  door  in  dull  agony  of  spirit.  I  reeled  sot-like 
across  the  yard  to  the  stables  and  fetched  Joe  for  further  serv- 
ice. Through  the  open  door  of  the  house  I  caught  a  sight  of 
John  and  Betty  bending  over  mother. 

Joe  took  me  from  the  farm  to  the  King's  Head  as  fast  as  he 
could  carry  me.  Arrived  there  I  sought  the  chamber  placed  at 
my  service  by  the  landlord,  locked  myself  inside,  kindled  a  light 
with  flint  and  steel,  and  set  John  Milton's  book  of  poems  blaz- 
ing. Next,  I  unstrung  the  necklet  of  crystal  pearls,  threw  up 
the  sash,  and  cast  them  out,  one  by  one,  in  all  directions ;  and, 
lastly,  stamped  my  foot  on  the  shell,  and  John's  costly  hall- 
marked watch,  smashed  them  beyond  recognition,  and  flung 
the  fragments  out  of  window.  This  accomplished,  I  dipped 
my  forehead  into  a  bowl  of  water  to  allay  the  ferment  in  my 
temples.  But  to  what  purpose  ?  I  threw  my  body  across  the 
bed  in  desperation,  only  to  toss  and  moan  upon  it  without  allev- 
iation of  my  misery.  And  every  time  I  shut  mine  eyes  I  saw 
my  dear  father  in  the  courthouse,  and  the  horrid  demon  reviling 
him,  or  the  shimmering  mass  of  metal  and  the  moonlight  still 
upon  it.  Yet  even  such  phantasies  as  these,  though  they  made 
me  shudder  and  tremble  as  if  I  had  got  the  ague  ;  even  these, 
in  course  of  time,  gradually  dwindled  to  that  of  a  maid  young 
and  beautiful,  with  eyes  big  with  gratitude.  Here  my  moaning 


150  AffS  TRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VIN. 

ceased,  and  I  got  off  my  couch  less  wearily,  and  went  down- 
stairs into  the  private  parlor. 

"  Why,  Ned,"  said  Master  Whipple,  "  what  hast  been  a-clo- 
ing  ?  'Oons,  lad,  I  never  set  eyes  on  such  a  tozzled  head  of 
hair.  Hast  been  drawn  thro'  a  thick-set  hedge  back'ards  ?" 

T  said  no  word  to  Pete,  but  started  immediately  for  Kelston 
Manor.  That  night  I  played  and  lost  ten  more  guineas,  whilst 
Mistress  Marvin  concocted  the  punch  and  praised  my  courage, 
and  even  the  knight  admitted  it.  I  was  also  informed  that  Ixe 
set  off  for  Wiltshire  in  the  morning,  hence  there  would  be  no 
play  for  the  next  four  days. 

On  coming  back  to  Bridgwater,  I  lost  no  time  in  seeking 
bed ;  whereupon  my  brain  grew  hot  again,  and  things  got 
muddled,  and  churned  one  amongst  another  in  my  head.  Be- 
fore sleep  came,  mother's  tearful  face  was  near  me.  And  look- 
ing over  her  shoulder,  methought  I  saw  Mistress  Dorothy 
Marvin.  The  last  thing  I  was  conscious  of  that  night  was  that 
the  pair  of  them  seemed  struggling  in  a  contest  to  be  foremost 
near  me.  But  in  the  midst  of  it,  they,  too,  mingled  with  the 
other  phantoms  :  notably  John's  cruel  eyes,  Tobe  Hancock's 
forbidding  aspect,  my  dead  father,  and  Judge  Jeffreys — the 
devil !  Next  morning  I  awoke,  cheeks  hectic  and  lips  parched, 
in  a  state  of  fever. 

Peter  Whipple  shook  his  head  with  gravity,  and  being  a 
handy  man  and  a  shrewd  one,  bled  me  forthwith,  avowing  that 
no  physician  must  be  sent  for,  else  the  sheriff's  men  would 
soon  have  news  of  things,  and  would  then  come  and  arrest  me 
without  hindrance. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  DEATH'S  HEAD  AT  THE  FEAST. 

IN  a  week  I  was  hale  again.  This  circumstance  was  lucky 
for  me  and  unlucky  for  friend  Peter. 

One  day  during  convalescence,  mine  host  came  to  me  in  a 
seemingly  diffident  manner,  and  delivered  himself  as  follows — 

"  Young  man,  I'm  uncommon  glad  to  see  thee  on  thy  pins 
again,  but  business  is  business." 

Hereupon  the  worthy  gentleman  broke  off  short,  drew  his 
brows  together,  twirled  his  thumbs  with  edifying  solemnity; 
pulled  a  very  odd  face,  and  coughed  thrice  in  an  apologetic 
manner. 


THE  DEATH'S  HEAD  AT  THE  FEAST.  151 

"Yes,  friend,  business  is  business,  I'll  remark  again.  Um, 
ah  !  have  a  drop  o'  cider,  lad,  it's  good  to  keep  the  head  cool." 

He  poured  me  out  a  full  tankard,  did  likewise  for  himself, 
pledged  my  health,  and  fell  to  twirling  his  thumbs  a  second  time. 

"  What  I  was  about  to  say,"  said  he  once  more,  "  is  that 
business  is  business." 

"  Why,  confound  you,  Pete  !  "  said  I,  very  well  knowing  the 
drift  of  affairs  by  this,  "  you've  made  that  brilliant  observation 
nigh  a  score  times  already.  What  d'ye  mean  ?  " 

"What  do  I  mean?"  Master  Whipple  refilled  his  tankard. 
"  I  mean  business  is  business,  an'  friendship  is  friendship,  an' 
a  fee's  a  fee,  and  some  folk  are  damned  stupid,  others  damned 
blind,  an',  'twixt  you  and  me,  there's  none  so  blind  as  those 
that  won't  see." 

"  Very  true,"  I  answered,  not  daring  to  look  at  him,  else  I 
must  have  laughed.  You  see,  I  knew  mine  host  of  old. 

"  Ay,  blind  as  bats  in  a  belfry,  ain't  they  ?  But,  lad,  business 
is  the  most  beautiful  thing  extant,  and  friendship  comes  close 
after  it.  Combine  'em,  and  they  are  all-powerful.  Now, 
hearkee,  brother  !  I,  your  dearest  friend,  nursed  you,  and 
tended  you,  and  bled  you,  and  kept  vigil  wi'  you,  and  plied 
cool  cloths,  and  a  thousand  and  one  medicaments.  Also,  I 
kept  mine  own  counsel  all  the  while,  mark  you  that !  Therefore 
here  ye  are,  sound  in  limb  and  body,  thanks  to  pure  friendship. 
Faith.  I  would  have  done  the  like  for  no  other  man  that  ever 
drew  breath  !  And  just  think  of  the  cost  o'  this  attendance. 
There's  the  price  o'  the  physics,  the  skilful  treatment,  the 
sleepless  nights,  and  the  dead  losses  in  private  business  by  in- 
attention." 

"  Ah,  yes  ;  quite  so  !  "  said  I,  counting  out  ten  guineas  on  the 
table,  and  pushing  them  towards  him. 

"  What's  that  ?  "  he  asked,  mighty  solemn. 

"  That's  the  fee.  Why  in  the  world  didn't  you  say  what  was 
required  at  first  ?  I  misunderstood  you,  friend,  altogether.  Of 
course,  I  perceive  the  force  of  your  remarks  now.  I  beg  your 
pardon." 

"  No  offence,  no  offence  !  "  The  gold  dropped  briskly,  coin 
by  coin,  into  his  vest  pocket.  Then  he  commenced  to  cry. 

"  Forgive  me,  good  friend  !  "  he  sobbed.  "  I  am  too  ashamed 
to  speak.  I  am  your  friend,  and  ye  are  mine,  and  I've  done  my 
duty  by  you,  even  as  ye  would  do  by  me.  God  knows  I  would 
not  touch  a  single  groat  as  recompense,  were  it  not  for  that 
cursed  business.  If  I  did  not  accept,  I  must  perforce  show  a 
dead  loss  in  the  accounts,  and  that  would  never  do  for  sure  ; 
just  think  of  my  poor  family." 


152  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

"  Of  course,"  and  I  nodded  acquiescence. 

From  careful  inquiry,  both  subsequent  and  previous,  I  was 
never  able  to  gather  aught  concerning  this  reputed  "  family." 
He  had  none,  for  certain,  in  Bridgwater.  The  utmost  of  my 
gleaning  was,  in  a  moment  of  confidence,  from  Master  Whipple 
himself — that  is,  when  his  breath  was  growing  odoriferous. 
Then  he  hinted  that  this  "  family  "  was  part  of  his  business 
equipment  and  stock-in-trade. 

Henceforth  the  days  went  briskly  by.  The  springtime,  the 
heartsome  springtime,  was  gradually  unfolded  in  its  beauty. 
With  it  came  longer  days,  mellow  air,  and  cheerful  sunshine. 
The  tree  boughs  and  the  never-ending  length  of  hedgerows 
donned  their  summer  garment,  the  buds  expanded,  and  all  nature 
became  verdant  and  inviting.  I  suppose  'twas  by  one  of  the 
perversities  of  human  nature  that  at  this  time,  when  in  all 
fittingness  I  should  have  been  in  black  depths  of  despair,  I  was 
so  very  conscious  of  delight. 

For  a  week  after  the  proper  power  of  thinking  had  been  re- 
stored to  me,  I  pondered  much  upon  the  prospect  unfolded  by 
Tobe  Hancock.  My  duty  to  friends  and  self  was  very  plain, 
but  what  avail  is  duty  unless  supported  by  the  heart  ?  To  be 
precise  hereon,  my  heart  was  no  longer  obedient  to  my  will ;  in 
fact,  I  could  not  now  command  it,  seeing  that  it  had  deserted 
me  and  was  in  another's  keeping. 

And  so  the  struggle  was  soon  decided.  Therefore  I  continued 
to  lose  money  every  night,  and  in  the  mean  time  endeavored 
might  and  main  to  win  a  heart  in  exchange  for  the  one  won 
from  me. 

April  came  and  went  all  too  quick,  likewise  May,  yet  early  in 
June  I  learned  a  thing,  which  if  it  caused  not  the  days  to  go  the 
slower,  certainly  made  me  attend  them  more,  because  an  event 
was  pending  which  was  fraught  with  import,  both  towards 
myself  and  towards  the  country. 

I  was  at  the  manor  one  night  as  usual,  and  had  just  made  the 
first  replenishment  of  the  coins  upon  the  table,  when  the  knight 
laid  down  his  bowl,  and  stared  fiercely  in  my  face  with  that  one 
eye  of  his  which  to  me  was  far  more  impressive  than  a  pair  of 
other  people's. 

"  Mon  fils,"  he  said,  "  I  have  news  for  thee  ;  you  have  right 
to  know,  as  ye're  one  of  us.  A  council  is  convened  here  at  the 
manor  on  the  eighth  of  July,  when  our  course  of  action  is  to  be 
carefully  discussed.  All  the  men  of  leading  we  can  muster  will 
come  hither,  and  methinks  'twill  have  resolutions  of  rarest 
import  for  its  outcome." 


THE  DEATH'S  HEAD  AT  THE  FEAST,  153 

"  That  so  !  "  I  exclaimed,  taken  aback  at  these  momentous 
tidings. 

"  'Tis  so,  Ned,"  quoth  Mistress  Dorothy,  who  was  by.  "  And 
you  may  bless  your  natal  saint  'tis  no  house  of  yours  these  folk 
are  coming  to.  Oh  dear,  what  a  place  'twill  be  !  For  sure 
everywhere  will  be  turned  topsy-turvy  all  because  of  these  dukes, 
and  bishops,  and  knights,  and  peers.  Every  room  in  the  house 
will  have  to  be  put  in  fitness,  mountains  of  bed  linen  to  be  aired, 
apartments  to  be  furbished,  overhauled,  and  hung  with  tapestry  ; 
and  Bibles  placed  in  the  bishops'  bedrooms.  Also  huge  stores 
of  provisions  must  be  laid  in,  I  can  tell  thee,  for  I've  heard 
tell  that  e'en  the  Lord  Privy  Seal  hath  to  eat  and  drink  like  a 
commoner.  And  I  say,  Ned  !  I  am  to  be  dislodged  from  my 
pretty  chamber,  which  overlooks  the  copse  and  the  stream,  and 
receives  the  sun  in  the  early  morn.  But  you  know,  daddy,  I 
will  not  yield  it  up  to  any  man  amongst  them,  save  my  lord 
Churchill.  He  must  sleep  there.  He  will  be  a  great  captain  yet 
(old  Turenne  said  that),  and  I  wish  I  had  a  score  chambers  for 
great  captains  to  be  bedded  in  !  So  mind  you,  sir  !  I  will  not 
be  turned  out  for  any  beggarly  speechifying  Parliament  man." 

"  Pax,  pert  one  !  are  you  the  master  a'  this  place,  or  am  I  ? " 

"  You  are,  sir ;  but  I'm  the  mistress.  And,  being  the 
mistress,  all  domestic  details  must  be  left  to  me.  You'd  no 
more  be  able  to  attend  to  them  than  you  are  to  curl  your  wig." 

The  saucy  set  of  her,  and  the  bold  roguishness  of  her  de- 
meanor, was  a  sight  to  warm  the  heart.  The  knight  was 
angered  at  this  flippancy,  and  so  allowed  his  six  languages 
their  exercise.  Though  he  swore  so  hard  at  her,  she  mixed 
his  liquor  meekly,  and  played  the  injured  innocent  naughtily 
yet  prettily.  Still  the  irritated  warrior  would  have  none  of  her 
conciliating  graces,  but  stormed  much  and  lustily.  Not  that 
this  disconcerted  her  a  whit,  for  she  whispered  slyly  to  me — 

"  Now  I  will  play  my  master-card."     She  did  play  it. 

"  Papa,  you  held  dissertation  this  morning  on  the  glorious 
victory  of  Edgehill.  I  aver  and  am  free  to  maintain  that  you 
are  quite  wrong.  'Twas  a  drawn  battle,  sir ;  in  fact,  I  am  not 
so  sure  that  the  Roundheads,  under  Essex,  did  not  beat  you." 

"  Eh  ?  what  ?     Dost  know  what  you  say,  wench  ?  " 

"  Know  what  I  say,  sir  ?  Of  course  I  do.  Didn't  Sir  Wil- 
liam Balfour  make  a  flank  movement  and  drive  your  centre 
before  him  ?  Come,  sir,  I'm  perfectly  sure  'twas  a  drawn 
battle."  And  she  wagged  her  naughty  head  with  an  air  of 
absolute  conviction. 

"  It's  a  lie,  it's  a  lie  1  "  shouted  her  excited  sire,  truculently 


1 5  4  Mrs  TRESS  DOROTHY  MA  R  VIN. 

thumping  the  table,  but  falling  into  the  trap  as  usual.  "  Are 
you  unaware  that  Rupert  swept  the  Puritan  left  clean  off  the 
field  ?  I  ought  to  know,  I  was  one  of  the  men  that  helped  him." 

What  useful  purpose  shall  I  serve  in  detailing  this  passado  ? 
'Twas  merely  a  repetition  of  many  a  one  I  listened  to  betwixt 
the  twain  ;  and  to  a  man  of  peace  their  language  might  have 
been  high  Dutch  instead  of  military  jargon.  On  this  occasion 
the  disputants  went  to  such  a  length  that  a  plan  of  battle  was 
mapped  out  between  them.  And,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  the 
lady  was  continually  besting  her  father  in  the  argument.  All 
the  while  he  grew  more  excited  and  loud-voiced.  Methought 
the  swinging  of  his  arms  was  ominous,  as  he  admitted  first  one 
false  fact,  then  another.  But  at  the  conclusion  he  performed  no 
more  violent  deed  than  the  scratching  of  his  bewildered  head. 

At  this  mistress  Dorothy  effervesced  with  laughter,  made 
merry  at  the  perplexed  old  gentleman's  expense,  and  soundly 
rallied  him  on  the  score  of  his  agitation. 

"  Mordioux!  "  cried  Sir  Nicholas,  his  high  tones  having  de- 
clined to  something  perilously  near  dejection,  "  I'll  be  shot  if 
ever  I  thought  it  so ;  but,  strike  me  stiff  !  I'm  damned  if  it 
don't  seem  right.  Yet  'tis  a  queer  thing  that  a  bit  of  a  girl, 
who  can  ne'er  be  a  man-at-arms,  should  overcome  a  seasoned 
captain.  Mon  Dieu  !  I  must  summon  my  recollection." 

To  watch  him  twist  his  countenance  into  a  mass  of  thought- 
ful wrinkles  was  better  than  a  play.  I'm  sure  his  daughter 
thought  it  so.  She  soon  showed  that  on  occasion  she  could  be 
every  whit  as  merciless  as  her  parent.  First  she  clapped  her 
hands,  very  victorious,  but  very  impudent;  then  mocked  his 
cogitating  aspect,  wickedly  scratched  her  head,  contorted  her 
face,  and  corrugated  her  forehead.  This  done  she  flippantly 
cocked  her  thumb  over  her  shoulder,  according  to  the  vulgar 
custom,  then  sang  out  loud  enough  to  make  her  victim  scowl, 
"  Oh,  Ned,  do  look  at  the  seasoned  captain  !  " 

However,  the  next  moment,  her  opponent,  in  all  modesty, 
made  an  apparently  unimportant  observation.  But  it  proved 
that  this  stray  remark  more  than  served  his  purpose.  Instantly 
the  maid  discarded  her  triumphant  demeanor  in  favor  of  a  very 
puzzled  one.  Yet  she  gave  me  the  tail  of  her  eye ;  and  I  saw 
that  in  it  which  made  me  turn  my  head  away  to  laugh. 

"  Dear  papa,"  she  said  sedately,  "  I  do  believe  I'm  beaten. 
I  cannot  override  that  last  contention.  'Tis  a  case  of  hauling 
down  the  colors." 

She  made  the  surrender  very  neatly  ;  cunningly  counterfeited 
perturbation,  bit  her  lip,  looked  much  annoyed,  became  elabo- 


THE  DEATHS  HEAD  AT  THE  FEAST.  155 

rately  contrite,  began  "  to  wish  she  had  not  had  so  much  to 
say,"  declared  "  'twas  all  very  fine  to  talk,  but  she  knew  when 
she  was  mastered,"  and  so  on,  and  so  forth,  till  the  old  gentle- 
man really  persuaded  himself  that  he  had  gained  the  day  ; 
therefore  he  plucked  up  courage,  took  patronizing  airs,  and 
reassumed  bravado.  I  never  saw  a  man  more  beautifully 
fooled,  and  certainly  never  one  more  self-complacent.  He  was 
in  the  highest  of  good  humors  for  the  remainder  of  the  even- 
ing, and,  victory  being  assured,  he  bade  the  sly  vanquished  go 
thither  and  be  embraced. 

There  was  no  more  play  that  night.  Our  minds  were  too  full 
of  the  forthcoming  great  event  to  be  occupied  with  trivial 
affairs.  Sir  Nicholas  recapitulated  the  names  of  many  of  the 
guests  expected,  and  a  brave  array  they  made. 

"  There  is  but  one  among  them  I  do  not  hold  in  high  re- 
spect," he  said,  "and  that  is  my  lord  of  Sunderlancl." 

"  Indeed,"  said  I  surprisedly,  "  why,  sir,  he  is  the  King's 
prime  minister.  I  recollect  seeing  him  at  Whitehall." 

"  Then  you  saw  a  scurvy  rogue  and  villain,  lad.  Mayhap  it 
is  ungracious  in  me  to  so  decry  one  of  the  greatest  of  men,  and 
he  of  our  side,  too  ;  but  he  hath  no  spark  of  honor.  James 
hath  been  the  very  architect  of  his  fortunes,  yet  now  he  is  be- 
traying and  casting  calumny  on  his  master.  The  King  hath 
made  him  his  richest  subject ;  but  'tis  all  money  with  this  fellow. 
He  will  sell  his  soul  and  break  his  word  ten  times  over  for  the  gain 
of  a  silver  shilling.  Bah  !  Devil  take  such  a  paltry  hound  !  " 

The  knight  was  wondrous  hopeful  that  evening,  being  flushed 
with  wine  and  his  Edgehill  victory. 

"We  are  gaining  strength  every  day,  mon  cher,  and  the 
King  is  getting  weaker.  This  council  we  are  about  to  hold 
will  be  the  pivot  on  which  the  future  of  the  State  must  turn. 
Mark  me,  lad,  bold  action  will  be  the  result  of  it." 

This  topic  proved  all-absorbing  to  the  three  of  us  during  the 
days  which  elapsed  between  then  and  the  chosen  date.  Never- 
theless, other  events  befell  in  the  interim  that  are  set  down  at 
length  in  history.  On  the  second  or  third  day  of  July,  I  was 
coming  from  the  manor  at  dark  hour,  when  I  saw  the  western 
sky  illumined  by  a  lurid  glare.  As  I  trudged  towards  Bridg- 
water  it  deepened  as  though  fanned  by  the  breeze  of  the  night, 
whilst  more  strange  than  this  omen  in  the  sky,  in  the  town  it- 
self, usually  so  quiet  at  this  untimely  hour,  the  townsfolk  were 
astir  discussing  great  news  which  had  arrived  from  London. 

These  tidings  were,  that  the  Seven  Bishops  had  been  acquitted. 
Had  ye  lived  in  those  days  this  would  not  seem"  so  empty 


156  MISTKESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

sounding.  From  one  end  of  the  kingdom  to  the  other  the  trial 
of  the  Seven  Bishops  was  a  nine  days'  wonder.  'Twas  felt  to 
be  a  test  of  strength  betwixt  the  King  and  his  subjects.  That 
you  may  the  better  understand  this  matter,  here  is  the  gist  of  it. 

King  James  had  made  up  his  mind  to  force  Popery  upon  his 
people,  whether  they  liked  it  well  or  ill.  And,  to  make  his  pur- 
pose more  fully  known,  he  issued  what  he  was  pleased  to  call  a 
"  Declaration  of  Indulgence,"  whereby  his  subjects  were  re- 
minded of  his  determined  character,  and  of  the  grievous  mis- 
chances which  had  befallen  many  a  public  officer  who  had 
dared  to  oppose  his  will.  Yet  one  and  all  were  staunch 
enough  in  their  abhorrence  of  the  Pope.  Understand  that, 
children,  or  you  will  be  surprised  at  many  things  I  have  to 
tell.  This  land  of  ours,  and  the  brave  folk  in  it,  detested  the 
Pope,  his  cardinals,  and  all  his  upholders.  But,  alas  for  the 
English  nation  !  it  was  in  the  hands  of  an  unscrupulous  bigot, 
who  sooner  than  be  thwarted  in  his  aspirations,  would  shed 
rivers  of  his  people's  blood,  and  would  see  his  kingdom  damned. 
I  do  declare  most  solemnly  James  Stuart,  king  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  to  have  been  a  bowelless  wretch,  whose  aims  were 
self,  and  whose  heart  was  stone.  To  oppose  the  tyrant,  or  his 
red-handed  ministers,  was  to  hold  life  and  property  in  direst 
jeopardy,  for  the  King  and  his  servants  had  no  scruples,  as 
the  "  Bloody  Assizes  "  can  amply  testify. 

Now  this  declaration  was  ordered  to  be  read  in  every  pulpit 
in  London  on  two  successive  Sundays,  namely,  those  falling 
on  the  2oth  and  2yth  of  May;  while  the  same  was  to  be  done 
in  the  country  on  the  3d  and  loth  of  June. 

This  placed  the  English  Church  in  an  hurtful  plight.  It  was 
apparent  to  all,  that  should  its  bishops  and  clergy  comply  with 
this  order,  they  would  assist  at  their  own  undoing.  To  read  it 
out  meant  driving  terror  into  the  hearts  of  the  people,  whereby 
the  King's  designs  would  be  forwarded.  Should  they  refuse, 
they  were  at  once  the  King's  enemies,  and  should  they  consent, 
they  were  his  tools  to  help  pull  down  their  own  edifice,  and 
his  minions  to  countenance  his  creed.  To  the  everlasting 
credit  of  the  Protestant  Church,  its  pillars  showed  themselves 
brave  men  in  the  face  of  this  dilemma. 

Straightway  the  heads  of  it  convened  a  meeting.  The  result 
was  to  draw  up  a  resolution,  signed  by  seven  of  the  highest 
prelates  in  the  land, "refusing  to  obey  the  King's  commands. 
When  His  Majesty  heard  of  this  he  lost  his  temper.  He 
promptly  haled  these  men  of  courage  before  him  ;  and  stormed, 
and  fumed,  and  threatened ;  but  to  no  purpose.  The  Seven 


THE  DEATH'S  HEAD  AT  THE  FEAST.  157 

budged  not  an  inch,  and  stuck  tighter  than  wax  to  their  reso- 
lution. .  So  the  King,  in  his  might,  had  them  clapped  into  the 
Tower,  and  determined  to  bring  them  to  trial. 

James  Stuart  was  as  blind  as  a  noontide  owl,  and  had  no 
head  for  wisdom.  He,  stubborn  fool,  lacked  the  intuition  to 
see  that  the  country  was  entirely  with  the  bishops,  and  that  it 
hated  the  Roman  faith  from  the  bottom  of  its  heart :  neither 
had  he  the  sense  to  know  he  was  doing  a  thing  every  whit  as 
perilous  as  the  one  which  cost  his  father  his  head  and  his 
throne.  No  ;  this  man  had  the  Seven  arraigned  before  the 
Court  of  King's  Bench  on  a  charge  of  "seditious  libel  "  (what- 
ever that  may  mean),  and  tried  all  he  knew  to  "pack"  a  jury 
for  the  hearing  of  the  case.  This  "packing"  process,  as  far 
as  I  understand  it,  means  he  selected  men  who  were  knomi  to 
favor  his  cause  to  form  the  jury.  Also  my  lord  Jeffreys,  the 
best  hated  and  the  worst-principled  man  in  the  State,  who  by 
this  had  risen  uncommonly  high  in  the  council,  exerted  his 
devilish  powers  to  corrupt  the  judges  who  were  to  preside  at 
the  trial.  Thus,  at  the  outset,  it  was  obvious  the  bishops  had 
little  chance  of  an  acquittal.  Yet,  in  spite  of  everything,  and 
to  the  joy  of  the  nation,  they  were  pronounced  "Not  Guilty." 

England  was  delighted  at  this  noble  result.  Bonfires  were 
lighted,  church  bells  set  a-ringing,  and  effigies  of  the  Pope  and 
King  were  burnt  in  any  number.  Indeed,  'tis  said  one  was  set 
up  and  destroyed  before  the  very  gates  of  Whitehall  itself. 
The  glare  I  had  seen  in  the  sky  was  Dunkery  Beacon  blazing 
to  proclaim  the  good  news  to  the  Cornishmen.  And  in  Bridg- 
water,  ere  the  light  came  in  the  morning,  the  bells  rang  out 
from  every  steeple.  Also  the  alehouses,  in  a  fervent  spirit  of 
religion,  kept  open  all  night,  that  pious  souls  might  pronounce 
the  healths  of  the  prelates  till  their  money  was  lost,  and  their 
wits  had  met  with  a  like  misfortune. 

I  discovered  Master  Whipple  in  the  public  room,  dispensing 
liquor  and  retailing  much  information  not  known  to  the  world 
at  large.  Remember,  Pete  was  a  London  man,  and  if  he  could 
not  enlighten  the  bucolic  mind,  who  was  to  do,  concerning 
things  appertaining  to  the  King,  the  Court,  the  State,  and  the 
Constitution  ?  Mine  host  was  a  Churchman  for  that  night,  at 
least ;  and,  to  the  admiration  of  his  customers,  he  descanted 
with  particularity  about  "  Duty  to  the  Nation,"  and  rattled  off 
the  name,  age,  pedigree,  manners,  habits,  and  appearance  of 
each  member  among  the  Seven  ;  whilst  to  hear  him  talk  they 
must  have  been  his  bosom  friends  for  certain.  But  when  he 
came  to  relate  how  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  never  preached 


158  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

a  sermon  in  Town  without  he,  Pete,  chose  the  text  for  him,  I 
had  no  more  manners  than  to  laugh  aloud.  Not  so  his  auditors. 
They  took  every  word  he  uttered  as  unimpeachable  truth,  and 
set  my  behavior  down  to  ignorance  !  After  the  dispersal  of 
the  company,  1  tasked  Master  Whipple. 

"Ye  are  a  monstrous  liar,  Pete." 

"  Glad  am  I  to  hear  it ;  hearken  to  the  voice  o'  Wisdom,  friend  ; 
never  do  a  thing  half-hearted.  Also  go  wi'  the  wind,  it's  so 
much  easier  to  travel  in  that  direction.  Besides,  it's  more  prof- 
itable to  go  that  way  than  to  set  your  teeth  against  it.  If  the 
wind  blows  for  the  Church,  then  be  a  Churchman,  or  if  it  blows 
for  the  King  ye  had  better  be  the  loyalest  subject  breathing. 
Yet,  mark  you  this,  do  nothing  half-hearted.  Churchman  or 
King's  man,  Tantivy  or  Ranter,  Papist  or  Anabaptist,  no  matter 
what  your  title  for  the  nonce,  be  ever  more  zealous  than  your 
neighbors.  If  ye  pray,  pray  twice  as  long  as  your  fellow 
Christians,  or  if  ye  lie,  lie  twice  as  large  as  your  brethren  in  in- 
iquity. Half  a  lie  is  worse  than  no  lie  at  all.  Do  everything 
wi'  all  your  might.  That  is  the  first  principle  of  business ;  at 
least,  Bob  Bickers  said  so.  If  he  pinked  a  man,  he  pinked  him 
through  the  heart ;  or  if  he  robbed  a  man,  he  left  him  nothing 
but  his  hosen.  He  even  stripped  him  of  his  sword  and  silver 
buckles ;  and  ne'er  left  him  sense  sufficient  to  tell  the  tale." 

And  now  I  will  speak  on  a  matter  that  deserves  some  men- 
tion. 'Twas  a  luscious  thing  to  keep  imbibing  love  day  by  day  ; 
to  get  drunk  with  its  geniality,  and  in  the  throes  of  its  intoxica- 
tion disregard  the  inward  voice.  Now  this  inward  voice,  which 
tormented  me  after  heavy  bouts,  was  the  death's  head  at  the 
feast.  'Tis  truly  fine  I  trow  to  drink  and  be  merry,  and  tilt 
the  measure  till  the  bottoms  are  gulped,  and  to  laugh  and  for- 
get cold  care.  But  drown  it  quite  I  never  could.  No  matter 
how  little  I  heeded  alien  matters,  this  skeleton  ne'er  failed  to 
appal  me  with  its  apparition. 

'Twas  delicious  to  play  piquet  with  the  knight,  and  lose  other 
people's  money ;  to  see  white  hands  concoct  the  punch ;  to 
watch  red  lips  trill  a  rollicking  lilt,  and  hear  them  whistle  it. 
Or  better  still,  to  lie  beside  an  eager  form  as  its  owner  fished 
under  the  boughs  when  the  days  were  hot,  for  reluctant  creat- 
ures in  the  stream  ;  or  when  they  were  wet  to  sit  in  a  dripping 
cloak  beside  this  self-same  form,  because  the  fish  bit  better 
then.  And  to  gaze  at  the  maiden  undisturbed  as  she  put  a 
finger  up  for  silence  when  the  line  was  tugged,  and  to  behold 
the  marble  neck  inclining  and  the  face  so  keen,  was  reward  for 
the  best  of  men.  Sometimes  we  would  discuss  the  art  of  quarte 


THE  SWORD  OF  A   TITAN. 


159 


and  tierce,  and  even  practise  it ;  when  I'd  thwart  attacks  from 
maiden  arms,  and  compliment  my  adversary  on  her  strength  of 
thrusting. 

At  other  times  the  two  of  us  would  seek  to  best  each  other 
in  the  firing  of  pistols  at  a  mark — in  fact,  I  found  the  warlike 
"maid  had  greater  knowledge  of  such  weapons,  and  quite  as  firm 
a  hand  and  as  steady  an  eye  in  their  employ  as  ever  I  possessed. 
Yet  outstripping  this  in  point  of  pleasurableness  was  a  gallop 
side  by  side  with  her,  over  hedge  and  ditch,  hill  and  dale,  along 
the  road  or  across  the  grass,  ere  the  sun  was  fully  risen  in  the 
morning,  and  then  have  a  mad  race  home  to  breakfast.  The 
delight  of  that !  And,  better  still,  to  hear  a  soft  voice  call 
"  Ned  ;  "  and  in  return  for  this  lack  of  title,  to  be  enjoined  to 
call  your  companion  by  her  simple  name  alone,  without  the 
prefix  "  mistress." 

Here,  kinsmen,  was  the  inebriating  cup  of  happiness,  that 
was  daily  drained.  And  all  the  time  your  sire  spent  the  money 
of. honest  men,  and  averred  to  his  inner  self  to  kill  biting  pangs, 
that  this  love  was  pure  and  sweet  and  holy.  I  could  not  muster 
the  courage  to  venture  by  the  Farm,  after  what  had  befallen  on 
that  last  visit.  Yet  those  heart-bursting  incidents  served  to  fan 
stealthily  into  a  flame  the  fire  which  so  soon  was  destined  to 
consume  my  soul.  Already,  when  I  had  the  time  to  meditate, 
I  felt  the  portents  of  its  agony.  You  have  seen  how  I  battened 
on  rapture  ;  but  in  this  stolen  sweetness  there  was  ever  an  after- 
taste of  gall.  I  might  be  eating  of  the  lotus,  but  could  not 
abandon  myself  to  its  entire  enjoyment,  because  I  always  had 
a  secret  fear  that  it  might  turn  to  poison  in  my  stomach.  To 
put  this  unharmonious  sense  in  the  smallest  compass,  being 
naturally  a  creature  prone  to  look  ahead  in  times  of  solitude,  I 
was  continually  asking  myself  what  would  be  the  end  of  my 
monstrous  passion  ?  What,  indeed  ?  Methinks  this  inner 
questioning  heralded  the  first  struggle  betwixt  Black  Ned  and 
Master  Edward  Armstrong. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  SWORD  OF  A  TITAN. 

KINSMEN,  I  see  your  scowls ;  I  hear  you  cast  contumely  on 
your  father's  name  as  I  reveal  the  depths  of  my  duplicity.  I 
can  imagine  you  laying  down  for  the  behoof  of  one  another,  when 


1 60  AfJSTRESS  DORO  THY  MA R  VIN. 

ye  sip  your  wine  and  chew  your  walnuts,  the  path  I  should 
have  trodden.  Yes,  'tis  easy  to  preach  warlike  doctrine  in 
time  of  peace.  'Tis  easier  still  to  fight  the  devil  when  the 
devil  sleeps.  We  can  all  preach  charity  when  we  sit  in  silk  and 
broadcloth,  and  fling  groats  to  our  poorer  brethren  without 
hurt  to  our  yearly  incomes.  Many's  the  time  I  have  toasted  my 
shins  by  the  fire  in  after  years,  and  have  marvelled  at  my 
previous  baseness.  For,  you  are  to  understand,  I  was  not 
wholly  blind  to  honor  throughout  that  time.  I  was  not  wholly 
lost  in  soul.  I  might  be  joyous  for  a  day,  but  when  reflection 
came  in  the  silence  of  the  night,  a  pang  would  convulse  me,  and 
I  would  remember  who  I  was,  what  I  was,  and  what  I  sought 
to  do.  I  would  recollect  how  my  presence  brought  brightness 
to  the  maiden's  eye,  and  how  sometimes  the  knight  looked  at  me 
in  a  way  that  was  not  unkindly.  Yet  I  continued  to  play  my 
cruel  game,  but  rarely  dared  to  speculate  on  its  result.  'Twas 
like  balancing  one's  self  on  the  extreme  edge  of  a  precipice. 
The  least  breath  of  wind,  the  vaguest  whisper  of  suspicion,  and 
I  should  irrevocably  be  lost,  even  as  a  loose  boulder  or  a  loose 
word  would  send  one  hurtling  to  the  gulf.  I  foresaw  this  as 
clearly  as  I  write  it  now  ;  so  one  day  made  a  powerful  resolve. 

A  week  after  hearing  of  the  forthcoming  council  at  the 
manor,  I  determined,  come  what  might,  to  tell  father  and 
daughter  all  the  terrible  passages  in  my  history,  and  risk  the 
consequences.  I  knew  I  had  some  hold  upon  their  affection 
and  esteem.  My  successful  visit  to  Churchill  had  smoothed 
my  path,  and  had  taken  me  nearer  to  their  hearts.  Again,  I 
was  a  fellow-conspirator,  and  had  not  only  shared  their  opinions, 
but  had  suffered  for  their  sentiments.  Then  my  family  had  to  be 
considered, — then  my  trickery,  my  deception,  and  my  thieving. 
And  no  matter  how  I  compared  each  virtue  and  defect,  'twas 
palpable  that  in  the  eyes  of  honest  men  my  sins  eclipsed  my 
nicer  characteristics.  I  wrestled  three  days  with  cowardice. 
During  that  bitter  struggle  I  ne'er  set  foot  on  the  manor  lands, 
though  many  times,  to  my  eternal  shame,  I  coveted  my 
mistress. 

On  the  fourth  evening  of  this  flesh-reducing  conflict  betwixt 
right  and  wrong,  I  sat  opposite  my  friend  and  host  in  his  little 
parlor.  We  smoked  and  drank  together ;  yet  whereas  Pete 
was  cheerful,  I  was  gloomy,  downcast,  and  perverse.  He 
scanned  me  narrowly,  then,  in  his  dry  way,  raised  one  eyebrow. 

"  Young  friend,"  he  said,  "  thou  hast  gotten  a  dangerous  and 
infectious  malady.  Thou  hast  caught  it  in  its  worst  form,  and 
I'm  disturbed  at  the  symptoms." 


THE  SWORD  OF  A   TITAN.  161 

He  drew  down  the  corners  of  his  mouth  in  a  grim,  unctuous 
fashion,  with  his  pipe-stem  described  half  a  circle  in  the  air, 
and  continued — 

"  Some  take  the  complaint  with  raving  and  divers  kinds  of 
madness.  That  is  the  mild  form.  They  manage,  as  a  general 
thing,  to  recover  in  a  day  or  two  ;  but  when  they  catch  it  as 
you  have  caught  it,  and  sit  wi'  words  for  none,  and  a  face  as 
jolly  as  the  day  o'  judgment,  I  invariably  notice  they  finish  wi' 
an  ounce  o'  lead  ;  or  maybe  they  do  the  thing  in  style — inscribe 
a  last  farewell  to  her,  and  are  found  at  the  top  of  a  stream  nine 
days-  hence  with  a  glassy  eye  and  a  bursted  gall." 

"  What  d'ye  mean  ?  " 

"  What  do  I  mean  !  Hark  at  that  now  !  Most  excellent 
youth,  hast  never  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  best  of  her 
sex  ?  Hast  never  set  eyes  on  the  fairest  flower  on  God's  earth  ? 
Hast  never  cast  thoughts  on  one  whose  shoe-strings  thou'rt  un- 
fit to  tie,  and  for  whom  thou'rt  willing  to  expend  the  last  drop 
o'  blood  within  thy  body  ? '.' 

"  Enough  of  this,  Pete  !  Go  to  !  "  said  I,  annoyed  at  his 
sarcasm. 

"  Pshaw  !  you  vapid  fool,  you  witless  loon  !  How  many 
times  have  I  warned  you  'gainst  the  women  ?  Have  I  not 
prayed  you,  besought  you,  begged  you  to  let  'em  alone  ?  And 
here  y'  are,  in  sooth,  a  noble  object.  Two  months  agone  you 
bid  fair  to  approach  Long  Bob  Bickers,  but  now  ye  bid  fair 
to  come  by  a  bad  and  violent  ending.  Oh,  man,  I  weep  for  you  !  " 

This  caused  me  to  swear  fiercely  at  the  innkeeper ;  whereat 
he  clapped  his  hands,  exclaiming — 

"  Bravo,  Ned,  my  lad !  That's  perceptibly  better.  Work  it 
off  like  that !  Curse,  swear,  rave,  declaim — do  something,  or, 
heavens,  'twill  be  another  case  of  an  ounce  o'  lead  or  a  few 
fathoms  o'  water !  'Tis  more  than  flesh  and  blood  can  bear, 
for  one  afflicted  with  this  love-sickness,  to  sit  a-moping,  a-griz- 
zling,  and  a-thinking  in  a  corner." 

Truly  Master  Whipple  was  cold  comfort.  Still  I  could  not 
help  judging  him  correct  in  his  observations;  I  felt  the  strain 
upon  my  mind  beyond  endurance.  Methought  the  brain  must 
collapse  unless  I  got  the  matter  settled. 

Accordingly,  towards  dark  hour  on  that  fourth  night,  I  put 
on  my  cloak,  and  went  forward  to  the  manor  ;  but  by  the  time 
the  gates  hove  in  sight,  I  felt  my  courage  oozing,  as  the  saying 
is,  out  at  my  finger  ends.  'Twas  like  sweating  blood  to  think 
of  making  a  confession.  Yet  where  was  an  alternative? 
Certes,  I  might  have  kept  aloof  from  my  mistress  altogether ; 


1 6  2  MIS  TRESS  D  OR  O  Til  Y  MA  R  VIN. 

but  instinct  warned  me  that  passion  was  stronger  than  con- 
science. 1  had  not  the  power  of  will  to  abandon  her  without 
a  blow.  I  preferred  to  risk  life  itself  sooner  than  tamely  lose 
her,  so  clutched  this  final  chance  as  a  drowning  man  clutches  a 
straw. 

Upon  my  arrival  at  the  knight's  abode,  I  found  the  candles 
lit,  and  Mistress  Marvin  in  the  sitting-room  alone.  Her  occu- 
pation was  truly  a  strange  one  for  a  gentlewoman.  She  was 
polishing  her  father's  sword  by  means  of  a  rag  and  a  bottle  of 
oil. 

I  had  the  rarest  of  receptions ;  her  eyes  sparkled  when  they 
saw  me.  Meantime  I  perceived  her  face  was  wan,  and  her 
eyelids  heavy,  whilst  the  expression  of  her  beautiful  counte- 
nance told  me  plainer  than  words  that  she  was  not  by  any 
means  her  usual  laughing  self,  but  was  bereft  of  her  frolic 
vivacity. 

"Where  is  your  father,  mistress?"  I  inquired.  He  was  sel- 
dom absent  from  that  room. 

"  Alas,  poor  father  !  "  she  sighed,  "  he  hath  been  very,  very 
ill,  Ned  ;  in  fact,  nigh  unto  death's  door.  Two  learned  phy- 
sicians despaired  of  his  life  two  days  ago  ;  yet  now  they  tell 
me  he  is  mending  fast,  and  is  out  of  danger." 

I  gave  a  cry  of  surprise. 

"And  they  tell  me  this  noble  news  is  entirely  due  to  my 
diligence  of  nursing.  One  of  them  said  that  when  he  fell  sick 
he'd  send  for  me  to  nurse  him — you  can  trust  a  man  for  im- 
pudence. I've  just  left  poor  old  daddy's  side  for  the  first  time 
for  fifty  hours  ;  but  when  I've  finished  this,  I'm  going  to  sleep 
the  clock  round."  She  spoke  in  an  easy  tone,  as  though  'twere 
quite  an  everyday  occurrence. 

"  What  a  steadfast  thing  you've  done ! "  cried  I,  moved  to 
honest  admiration. 

She  was  silent  for  a  moment,  being  genuinely  surprised  at 
this,  then  answered,  with  a  thoughtful  air — 

"  Well — yes — perhaps  it  was  ;  but  " — and  she  drew  herself 
up  very  straight — "  I  come  of  a  steadfast  stock,  sir." 

Perhaps  she  was  very  tired  (no  doubt  she  was) ;  but  for  all 
that  a  glow  of  color  flew  to  her  face,  and  a  splendid  light 
flashed  in  her  eyes. 

"There!  I'm  boasting  again."  She  laughed,  then  added, 
with  all  the  reverence  due  to  such  a  sacred  name — "  but  you 
see,  Ned,  I'm  so  proud  of  my  old  father." 

As  if  looks  were  not  enough  to  prove  that  my  visit  had  once 
more  made  her  alert  and  smiling,  she  continued  briskly — 


THE  SWORD  OF  A   TITAN.  163 

"  I'm  delighted  to  see  you,  lad.  Now  you've  come,  I  don't 
feel  tired  any  more.  I'm  afraid  you  have  spoilt  me,  sir.  Be- 
fore I  knew  you,  I  could  only  talk  on  sufferance ;  to  use  my 
tongue  was  something  of  a  luxury,  and  could  only  say  what  I 
had  to  say  when  Sir  Nicholas  allowed  me.  But  I  always  say 
just  as  much  as  I  like  to  you,  sir ;  so  talking,  with  me,  hath  now 
become  an  absolute  necessity.  It  hath  been  truly  hateful 
this  last  three  days  to  have  nought  else  to  speak  to  but  a  bed- 
post. Upon  my  word,  Ned  " — and  she  looked  as  though  she 
were  saying  something  with  a  wicked  flavor — "  I  do  believe 
they  must  be  all  deaf  mutes  in  purgatory.  Anyhow,  that's  my 
idea  of  torment." 

Then  she  fell  a-talking  in  her  delightful  way ;  sometimes  jest- 
ingly, sometimes  earnestly ;  occasionally  witty,  and  always 
frank  and  honest  and  outspoken.  How  she  fascinated  me  with 
the  melody  of  her  voice,  and  the  music  of  her  frisky,  saucy, 
skilful  tongue  !  I  say  again,  she  may  have  been  much  wearied  ; 
but  sure,  upon  my  coming,  her  limp  spirit  was  revivified.  How 
she  held  me  by  her  subtle  witchery  !  No  matter  when  I  thought 
of  her,  or  talked  with  her,  I  seemed  to  feel  a  rarer  atmosphere 
around  the  heart. 

"  Dorothy,"  I  asked  her  presently,  "  how  comes  it  that  you, 
who  have  not  taken  any  rest  all  this  long  time,  are  doing  a  serv- 
ant's work  ? " 

She  looked  up  swiftly,  and  gazed  at  me  in  unconcealed  amaze. 

"  A  servant's  work  !  "  Her  voice  was  a  comical  mingling  of 
horror  and  reverence.  "  This  is  my  father's  sword,  sir  ! " 

"  Indeed  !  "  And  that  word  of  mine  had  no  room  for  any 
reverence  whatsoever. 

She  was  quick  to  note  this  disrespect.  A  wave  of  enthusiasm 
fired  her  and  rebuked  Ned  Armstrong.  Her  face  became  sud- 
denly brilliant,  her  eyes  sparkled,  and  a  warm  flow  of  words 
echoed  from  a  heart  o'erflowing  with  pride  and  admiration. 

"Look  at  it,  sir!  It  hath  done  grand  service  to  a  great 
fighter.  And  it  shall  do  more  yet,  if  I  can  but  get  the  gout  out 
of  its  owner.  See  how  beautifully  the  steel  is  wrought  and  the 
hilt  is  chased  !  Oh,  'tis  a  noble  thing,  a  brave  thing  !  'Tis  of 
proof,  thrice-welded,  Mondragon  steel.  Yet,  after  all,  as  father 
says,  "Tis  not  the  weapon  that  makes  the  warrior '  " 

"  Scanderbeg's  sword  requires  Scanderbeg's  arm." 

"  Very  true,  and  Sir  Nicholas  is'one  whom  it  makes  my  heart 
swell  to  call  'father.'  'Tis  his  boast  -that  his  name  is  known 
throughout  Europe  as  a  man  of  valor  and  of  spotless  honor. 
Dost  see  this  dent  on  the  edge  of  the  steel  ?  That  was  done  at 


1 64  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

Stamford  Heath,  when  it  shore  through  the  headpiece  of  Sir 
Jasper  Chaloner.  It  hath  gained  its  owner  renown  on  the  coun- 
terscarp at  Dunquerque,  and  on  many  a  field  in  Germany  and 
the  Lowlands.  Ay,  and  it  caused  the  French  King  Louis  to 
pin  the  Iron  Cross  on  father's  breast  with  his  very  own  hand 
at  his  palace  of  Fontainebleau  the  same  year  that  witnessed  the 
birth  of  the  good-for-nought  Dorothy  Marvin.  'Tis  glorious  to 
be  a  man  like  papa.  See  how  high  he  holds  his  head  in  his  old 
age,  and  has  fear  for  nothing " 

"  I  kit  the  gout  ?  " 

"  Do  you  know,  Ned,"  she  went  on,  after  giving  me  a  look  of 
severe  reproval,  "  that  he  hugs  a  grievance  against  nature  for 
making  me  a  girl  instead  of  a  boy  ?  " 

"Nay!" 

"  He  certainly  does,  sir;  and  he  reminds  me  of  that  same 
every  day  in  the  year.  He  says  that  Heaven  hath  sent  him  a 
baby-faced,  kitten-hearted  wench  for  his  sins,  instead  of  a  fine 
lad  to  carry  his  name  down  to  posterity.  Alack,  would  I  were 
a  man  !  " 

Her  sigh  was  tremendous,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe  it  as 
heartfelt  as  it  sounded.  Anyway,  I  saw  a  strange  wildness  in 
her  eyes,  as  she  stroked  the  blade  and  pressed  her  dainty  lips 
thereto  and  kissed  it.  Possibly  I  might  have  laughed  loud  at 
this  proceeding,  had  not  the  maid  been  so  intensely  earnest. 

"  VVouldst  like  to  be  a  soldier,  Dorothy  ?  "  And  I  cleverly 
smothered  a  smile. 

"  If  I  were  a  man,  I  would  worthily  bear  my  name,  and  keep 
my  father's  fame  lustrous.  But  you  see,  Ned,  I  am  not  built 
for  fighting.  Father  says  I'm  not.  He  declares  I'm  only  an  or- 
nament ;  a  plaything,  unfit  for  service.  Methinks  it  is  too  true  ; 
for  even  you,  that  are  not  a  fighting  man,  can  disarm  me  when- 
e'er you  list.  Again,  did  you  remark  that  morning  you  suc- 
cored me,  that  I  was  afeared  of  the  salt  and  the  balsam.  And 
I  am  frightened  of  blood,  though  it  grieves  me  to  say  it.  Sir 
Nicholas  detests  these  weaknesses.  I  know  I  shame  my  breed  ; 
yet,  alas,  I  cannot  overcome  them  !  'Tis  hard  ;  very  hard  !  Ah, 
we  miserable,  puny,  tucker-stitching  women  !  Why  was  I  made 
a  woman  ? " 

She  propounded  this  question  fiercely,  and  stamped  her  foot 
viciously  at  me  with  the  fire  I  loved  to  see  in  her,  as  though  I 
were  personally  to  blame  for  that  calamity. 

"  Ned,  thou'rt  a  wondrous  lucky  mortal.  Be  thankful  you 
aren't  a  woman.  Oh,  'tis  noble  to  be  a  man !  They  are  so 
very,  very  different." 


THE  SWORD  OF  A   TITAN.  \b$ 

Her  eyes  sparkled  as  she  said  so.  Yet  I  disagreed  with  her 
on  at  least  one  point,  but  had  the  sense  to  stifle  my  opinions. 
Now  you  must  know  that  my  vanity  had  been  tickled  by  this 
enthusiasm.  Besides,  I  had  come  hither  for  a  purpose.  There- 
fore, beset  by  acute  misgivings,  I  seized  my  opportunity. 

"  Mistress,  how  d'ye  know  I  am  not  a  fighting  man  ?  " 

"  I  crave  your  pardon,  Ned,  'twas  you  who  beat  the  redoubt- 
able Wilmot.  I  had  forgotten  that.  I  meant  you  were  not  a 
soldier." 

"  I  fought  for  Monmouth  at  Sedgemoor,  and  for  that  reason 
am  an  outlaw  at  this  moment." 

At  that  she  gave  a  cry,  and  repeated  softly  to  herself  the 
burden  of  my  statement.  As  for  me,  I  dared  not  look  at  her, 
for  the  word  outlaw  seemed  to  come  out  of  my  mouth  so  ugly. 
Besides,  I  tried  desperately  hard  to  finish  the  confession,  yet 
failed  to  do  so. 

Meanwhile,  the  maid  seized  my  hand,  and  her  fingers  trem- 
bled in  their  fervor,  because  (so  inflexible  are  the  laws  of 
fate)  my  outlawry  appeared  a  positive  merit  according  to  her 
way  of  thinking,  for  she  declared  her  father  would  have  fought 
in  that  same  cause  but  for  the  gout  seizing  him  at  the  time ; 
therefore  I  rose  enormously  in  her  esteem.  She  begged  for  a 
faithful  account  of  the  battle  ;  so  I  told  everything  I  could 
remember  concerning  it.  The  heart-rending  story  was  carefully 
recounted  ;  how  we  came  upon  Bussex  Rhine  in  the  foggy 
morning;  how  we  stood  by  helpless,  and  heard  the  orders 
shouted  in  the  King's  camp,  and  how  we  were  butchered  amid 
the  marsh  reeds  by  the  hundred.  Yes,  all  this  was  told,  yet,  try 
as  I  might,  I  failed  when  I  came  to  the  confession  of  my  char- 
acter. Heaven  knows  I  tried  my  best,  yet  there  stands  the 
fact — the  stern,  cruel,  biting  fact — I  failed  abjectly. 

My  courage  went  at  the  critical  moment.  I  glanced  at  my 
beautiful  companion,  who  was  absorbed  in  the  tale  of  death.  I 
knew  she  honored  and  admired  me  more  than  ever  she  had 
done  hitherto.  Even  my  outlawry  seemed  to  glorify  me  in  her 
eyes.  But  a  thief  !  How  could  I  sit  there  and  tell  her  that  ? 
Ned  Armstrong  was  a  coward  ;  and  of  all  beings  a  coward  is 
most  to  be  pitied  and  despised. 

"  'Tis  a  story  to  make  the  blood  dance  and  the  pulses  glow  !  " 
she  cried,  when. the  tale  was  told;  and  when  I  saw  her  face 
methought  she  was  defining  her  own  emotions. 

"  Mistress,"  said  I,  when  her  excitation  permitted  me  to  in- 
troduce a  word,  "  I  have  to  beg  that  you  will  speak  of  my  con- 
dition to  no  other  person  save  your  father.  Him  I  shall  inform 


166  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

of  it  as  early  as  may  be  convenient,  providing  he  passes  his 
word  beforehand  that  my  secret  will  be  safely  kept.  I  should 
tell  you  the  name  the  world  knows  me  by  is  a  false  one,  so  that 
none  guess  my  identity.  I  have  revealed  my  true  state  to  you 
now  because,  having  become  so  intimate  with  Sir  Nicholas  and 
yourself,  methought  it  my  duty  to  do  so." 

As  I  said  this,  I  almost  felt  myself  a  liar,  it  seemed  so  lame 
and  paltry.  I  had  meant  to  say  so  much,  and  here  had  said 
so  little.  Yet  now,  having  said  what  I  had,  it  was  essential  to 
the  interests  of  our  family  (which  throughout  my  life  I  have 
been  jealous  of)  not  to  let  others  know  that  I  was  Edward 
Armstrong.  Verily,  my  position  in  the  world  was  singular. 
The  knight  and  his  daughter  knew  me  as  Ned  Armstrong,  with- 
out guessing  me  to  be  Black  Ned,  whilst  with  other  folks  my 
titles  were  reversed. 

The  maid  promptly  granted  my  request,  and  knowing  that  I 
was  anxious  to  speak  with  the  knight,  conducted  me  to  his  bed- 
chamber. We  discovered  him  sitting  in  an  armchair  swathed 
in  rugs,  hard  by  the  fire.  On  a  small  table  to  his  right  hand 
was  a  heap  of  bottles  containing  liquids  and  medicaments. 
He  looked  both  fierce  and  maleficent ;  whilst  his  cadaverous 
cheeks,  slim  frame,  and  vacillating  fingers  caused  me  to  insti- 
tute a  comparison,  in  my  mind,  betwixt  his  present  figure  and 
the  one  pictured  by  his  daughter  in  her  recent  eulogy. 

"  So,  daddy,  you  are  awake  again,"  remarked  the  maid  at 
sight  of  him. 

"Awake?  Of  course  I  am,"  he  answered,  sharply  queru- 
lous. "  Where  hast  been,  my  wench,  this  time  back  ?  Tis 
very  plain  I  can  go  to  the  devil  for  you.  What  d'ye  mean  by 
it  ?  You  dare  not  neglect  me  thus  when  I  hold  good  health, 
and  by  my  soul  !  you  shan't  now,  or  I'll  know  the  reason." 

Now,  if  ever  father  was  loved  by  daughter,  assuredly  the  fort- 
unate man,  as  I  hope  I  have  made  plain,  was  Sir  Nicholas 
Marvin,  yet  he  had  the  brutality  to  swear  at  her.  Methought 
him  an  abominable  ingrate,  and  so  angered  was  I  at  his  churl- 
ishness, that  I  had  more  than  half  a  mind  to  convey  to  him  the 
information.  Still,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  it  was  obvious 
Dorothy  considered  his  complaint  was  proper,  for  she  had  pnid 
him  the  most  solicitous  attentions.  She  smoothed  his  pillow, 
mixed  his  punch,  arranged  his  rugs,  asked  his  forgiveness 
many  times,  and  finally  whisked  a  kiss  from  his  ugly  visage. 
Her  coaxing  ways  having  reduced  him  to  a  plausible  imitation 
of  a  Christian  temper,  I  told  him  as  much  of  my  story  as  I  had 
told  his  daughter,  and  no  more. 


THE  COUNCIL  AT  KELSTON  MANOR.  167 

Again  my  cowardice  was  my  master.  Fortunately  or  un- 
fortunately, I  know  not  which,  Sir  Nicholas  heard  the  tidings 
in  a  propitious  light,  and  readily  passed  his  word  not  to  divulge 
my  name.  Unhappily  he  asked  for  the  one  I  went  by — that 
was,  Black  Ned,  highwayman.  Thereupon  I  told  him  a  pre- 
meditated lie.  Said  I,  "  Sir  knight,  they  call  me  Master 
William  Jackson." 

Thus  the  only  thing  I  accomplished  that  night  was  to  forge 
another  bond  between  the  three  of  us.  Their  sympathies  were 
entirely  mine,  and  I  was  complimented  many  times  upon  having 
dared  to  strike  against  the  monarch's  tyranny. 

It  was  near  midnight  before  I  left  the  manor  ;  and  as  Mistress 
Dorothy  bid  me  good-night,  she  said — 

"  Ned,  if  it  ever  befalls  that  you  are  hard  pressed  by  the  law, 
and  are  in  need  of  succor,  come  to  us,  and  we  will  do  the  very 
best  we  can  on  your  behalf." 

I  thanked  her,  kissed  her  hand,  and  went  forth  into  the  eerie 
moonlight.  If  I  could  but  have  unfolded  all,  and  still  have  had 
that  kindly  promise  extended  towards  me,  what  would  I  not 
have  paid  ?  Oh,  if  I  had  kept  honest !  If  I  had  only  spurned 
the  devil !  The  possibilities  were  so  delightful,  and  the  loss  of 
them  smote  me  so  severely,  that  I  might  have  cried  out  in  pain 
of  mind  had  I  not  sworn  instead  (owing  to  pain  of  body),  for, 
being  so  engrossed  in  cerebratiori  that  I  heeded  not  material 
things,  I  walked  plump  into  the  gates  and  bruised  my  head  ;  so 
trudged  back  to  Bridgwater,  with  a  great  failure,  a  great  base- 
ness, and  a  damaged  head,  as  the  fruit  of  hours  of  internal  dis- 
cipline. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  COUNCIL  AT    KELSTON  MANOR. 

SANCROFT,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  ;  Lloyd,  Bishop  of  St. 
Asaph  ;  Turner,  of  Ely  ;  Lake,  of  Chichester;  White,  of  Peter- 
borough ;  Trelawney,  of  Bristol,  and  our  own  good  bishop  Ken, 
were  the  brave  seven  who  had  struck  a  bold  blow  into  the 
rotten  hulks  of  Popery.  From  one  end  of  the  kingdom  to  the 
other  their  bravery  was  heralded,  and  their  praises  sung  in 
many  a  ballad  and  yard  of  verse. 

Sir  Nicholas  heard  of  this  victory  over  the  King  with  every 
sign  of  glee,  and  i'  faith,  it  was  a  thing  well  calculated  to  raise 
the  spirits  of  us  conspirators. 


1 68  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

Master  Whipple   still   adhered   by   his   admiration    for   the 

bishops,  in  accordance  with  the  sentiment  of  the  country,  though 

he  said  "  It  mattered  not  a  blind  fiddler's  wallet  to  him  what 

was  done  by  King  or  Nation,  so  long  as  his  accounts  showed  a 

-reasonable  margin  on  the  right  side,  of  cent  per  centum." 

It  was  due  to  me  that  this  "  reasonable  margin"  was  increased 
in  an  unlooked-for  fashion. 

The  manor  was  barely  large  enough  to  accommodate  all  the 
gentlemen  who  assembled  there,  and  to  allow  them  lodging  and 
entertainment,  to  say  nothing  of  the  numerous  servants  who 
came  with  them ;  for  persons  of  quality  never  travelled  then 
without  several  outriders  for  protection  against  the  dangers  of 
the  road.  Thus  it  was  I,  knowing  Sir  Nicholas  had  the  billet- 
ing of  this  large  company,  mentioned  with  every  mark  of  appre- 
ciation Master  Whipple's  name.  Therefore,  upon  this  certifi- 
cate, mine  host  had  his  house  crammed  full  of  them,  and  I, 
casually  remarking  to  him  that  these  fellows  were  all  retainers 
of  persons  of  quality,  he  at  once  charged  double  in  the  bill. 
But,  as  he  said  to  me,  "  'twas  only  the  deep  sense  of  his  duty 
towards  his  family  that  called  for  this  precaution." 

'Twas  a  matter  of  emphatic  import  that  the  councillors 
under  the  knight's  roof-tree  should  preserve  secrecy  as  to  their 
identities  and  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  assembled.  And 
this  care  was  in  itself  successful,  as  very  few  had  an  inkling  as 
to  whom  they  really  were.  These  great  men  stayed  only  two 
nights  at  the  manor,  for  many  of  them  being  prominent  in 
Parliament,  any  prolonged  absence  was  sure  to  be  remarked. 

At  o^her  times  I  had  not  failed  to  notice  Sir  Nicholas  was 
dependent  on  his  daughter  for  every  minor  office.  She  it  was 
who  ordered  the  whole  household,  and  did  his  smallest  bidding, 
despite  her  frequent  threats  and  her  wayward,  teasing  out- 
bursts. Whether  it  chanced  to  be  a  matter  of  the  arranging  of 
his  wig,  the  tying  of  his  neckerchief,  the  tending  of  his  foot,  or 
the  shaving  of  his  chin,  it  ever  befell  that  Mistress  Dorothy  was 
the  one  to  do  the  needful.  But,  as  I  afterwards  learned  from 
her,  no  sooner  did  the  guests  arrive  than  her  father  was  another 
man.  Having  quite  recovered  from  his  recent  illness,  he  was 
up  betimes  of  a  morning,  and  so  far  forgot  his  habitudes  as  to 
completely  dress  himself  ;  took  interest  in  all  manner  of  house- 
hold business,  and  managed,  as  his  daughter  said,  "  to  play  the 
part  of  master  very  well  for  a  beginner."  Of  course,  as  so  many 
great  folks  were  about,  the  manor  knew  me  not  for  those  two 
days. 

On  the  second  morning  of  their  stay  it  happened  that  I  was 


THE  COUNCIL  A  T  KELSTON  MANOR.  1 69 

abroad  within  easy  distance  of  the  knight's  abode.  'Twas  still 
early,  being  only  an  hour  or  so  after  sunrise.  I  was  musing 
hard,  quite  lost  for  the  time  in  the  weight  of  mine  own  affairs, 
when  a  gentleman  with  a  couple  of  servants  behind  him,  turned 
the  corner  of  the  manor  lane,  and  rode  on  just  in  front  of  me. 
Somehow  my  mind  lingered  on  his  appearance.  Methought  I 
had  certainly  seen  him  ere  now,  and  loth  indeed  as  I  am  to  re- 
late it,  by  dint  of  thinking,  I  carried  my  recollection  back  to 
my  London  visit.  Thereupon  I  remembered  my  doings  at 
Whitehall,  and  whom  I  saw  there,  not  forgetting  the  man  who 
had  come  out  of  the  King's  antechamber.  Sure  this  was  the 
self-same  person — my  lord  Sunderland. 

'Tis  with  shame  that  I  tell  what  follows.  Forsooth,  I  should 
not  have  touched  upon  this  matter,  had  it  not  had  afterwards  a 
pregnant  bearing  on  my  fortunes  ;  and  aware  as  I  am  that  this 
miserable  episode  does  the  story  little  good,  and  me  less  credit, 
I  must  perforce  recount  it. 

Now,  being  certain  this  man  was  the  prime  minister  of  Eng- 
land, an  idea  was  born  to  my  knavish  brain.  Of  late  I  had 
been  spending  freely,  and  neglecting- business ;  and  when  a 
man  acts  thus  his  resources  are  bound  to  suffer.  If  I  troubled 
to  attend  to  the  pursuit  of  purses,  money,  with  me,  was  plenti- 
ful ;  yet,  being  improvident,  perhaps  owing  to  the  nature  of 
my  calling,  I  rarely  had  much  laid  by  with  which  to  take  a 
holiday.  Therefore,  having  none  to  augment  it,  the  money  I 
had  brought  from  Town  had  by  this  dwindled  into  nothing. 
This  discovery  had  been  made  that  morning,  and,  to  tell  the 
truth,  'twas  not  the  beauty  or  serenity  of  the  country-side  that 
had  tempted  me  out  so  early.  No,  roused  by  my  new-born 
knowledge,  I  sought  to  replenish  the  treasury. 

Thus  I  was  on  the  prowl  for  purses.  In  despite  of  all  the 
tortures  of  the  last  few  days  I  was  willing  to  commit  another 
crime.  Recklessness  had  again  dethroned  repentance.  Me- 
thought one  theft  the  more  or  one  theft  the  less  would  make 
no  difference ;  besides,  stealing  was  the  only  source  of  liveli- 
hood for  me  in  my  native  shire  ;  so  the  insipid  argument  once 
more  came  to  the  rescue  of  Black  Ned  of  "  a  man  must  live." 
'Twas  with  this  specious  platitude  that  he  tried  to  salve  his 
conscience  ;  yet  only  half  succeeded.  Thought  I,  my  lord  is  a 
mean-spirited  fellow.  So  says  Sir  Nicholas.  If  he  be  on  our 
side,  what  matter  that?  'Tis  surely  no  excuse  for  stinginess. 
Why  not  combine  business  with  morals,  and  visit  his  sins  upon 
him;  pointing  out  at  the  same  time  the  error  of  his  courses? 
This  facetious  bit  of  self-communing  came  from  long  contact 


1 70  MISTXESS  DORO THY  MAR  VI N. 

with  Master  Whipple.  I  turned  this  notion  over  in  my  mind, 
and  approving  of  it  awaited  my  lord's  reappearance,  as  I  knew 
quite  well  this  was  the  only  road  he  might  take  to  return  to 
the  manor. 

In  half  an  hour,  the  man  came  back  unsuspecting.  I  moved 
to  the  corner  of  the  lane,  and  as  he  drew  near  whipped  a  pistol 
from  the  holster.  His  lordship  pulled  up  in  a  hurry,  when  I 
presented  the  uncharitable  muzzle  at  his  head.  Had  he  been 
one  of  our  county  folk,  'twould 'have  been  unnecessary  to  have 
made  this  to  do ;  but  you  must  understand  my  reputation  had 
not  reached  so  far  as  London. 

"  My  lord  of  Sunderland,"  said  I  concisely,  as  my  gentleman 
drew  rein,  "  I  require  your  purse." 

"  Good  lack  !  you  insolent  rogue  !  "  he  gasped,  with  an  un- 
easy eye  for  the  staring  firearm.  Then,  recovering  some- 
what his  scattered  wits,  called  out  to  his  servants,  "  Dick  and 
Roger,  come  you  forward  and  collar  this  foul  scoundrel." 

It  happened  that  his  pair  of  worthies  had  been  jogging  peace- 
ably along  half  a  score  paces  behind,  until  the  occurrence  of 
this  stoppage.  Now,  when  my  lord  halted,  like  the  well-trained 
servitors  they  doubtless  were,  they  halted  too.  And  as  Sunder- 
land called  to  them,  I  coolly  plucked  another  pistol,  and  gave 
them  a  goodly  view  of  it. 

It  may  never  be  known  whether  these  fellows  were  stone 
deaf  or  otherwise,  yet  this  much  is  put  on  record  :  they  heeded 
not  my  lord's  command,  but-  remained  stock  still  and  silent. 
Yet  I  knew  they  were  not  blind  ;  else  why  should  they  each 
have  had  a  fearful  eye  for  the  firearms  ?  Their  master  cried 
three  lusty  calls  to  them,  and  was  half  through  a  fourth,  when 
I  clapped  the  barrel  to  his  head,  which  had  the  dire  effect  of 
nipping  his  voice  off  in  his  throat. 

"  Enough  of  this,  my  friend  ;  you  need  a  little  gentle  per- 
suasion. Your  purse  or  your  brains,  supposing  you  wear  such 
luxurious  articles." 

I  am  aware  that  this  was  impolite.  Yet  surely  he  that  holds 
the  pistols  cannot  be  compelled  to  hold  the  tongue  as  well. 
My  lord  drew  out  two  purses  mighty  quick,  yet  I  have  no  doubt 
the  secret  of  this  precipitation  lay  in  the  fact  that  the  unsym- 
pathetic iron  touched  his  forehead.  These  received,  I  bade 
his  followers  approach  under  penalty  of  lead  in  their  several 
hides.  In  mortal  terror  they  came  up,  and  were  at  once  pre- 
sented with  Black  Ned's  admonition. 

"  Honest  men,  I  am  touched  exceedingly  by  the  courage  and 
fidelity  ye  have  displayed  in  your  master's  service.  Therefore, 


THE  COUNCIL  A  T  KELSTON  MANOR.  1 7 1 

gentlemen,  as  a  token  of  appreciation,  I  will  e'en  make  no  dif- 
ference 'twixt  yourselves  and  your  betters.  I  will  have  your 
money  along  with  his  lordship's,  to  show  I  favor  not  the  great 
alone.  I  love  honesty  and  valor.  And  further,  may  it  please 
you  to  learn,  Colman's  Specific  hath  wonderful  curative  prop- 
erties, and  that  five  drops  on  cotton  wool,  administered  with 
regularity  to  the  ears,  is  a  certain  cure  for  deafness." 

To  see  their  faces  was  truly  droll.  A  dismal  trio  servants 
and  master  made  as  they  rode  away  mouthing  maledictions. 
I,  being  a  boastful  fool,  and  wishing  to  advertise  my  fame  still 
more,  cried  out  as  they  left  me — • 

"  Your  gratitude  is  due,  gentlemen,  to  Black  Ned,  the  best 
man  who  hath  ever  worked  these  roads." 

As  you  shall  learn  later,  this  piece  of  folly  was  to  cost  me 
dear.  The  evening  of  the  next  day,  my  lords  and  gentlemen 
having  ridden  hence  to  their  own  abodes,  I,  sprightly  as  you 
please,  presented  myself  at  the  manor,  having  done  little  else 
but  brood  on  love  for  two  whole  days.  I  had  crushed  my 
pangs  for  the  time  ;  cowardice  had  again  made  me  reckless 
of  honor.  In  face  of  my  late  defeat  I  tried  to  choke  my  con- 
science by  pandering  to  felicity.  My  mistress  received  me 
radiant,  and  overflowed  with  news,  as  the  women  are  but  too 
glad  to  do.  Her  father  also  had  his  share  to  tell. 

"  The  saints  be  praised  !  These  great  men  have  gone  !  " 
cried  the  impetuous  girl.  "  Ned,  it  hath  been  a  truly  dismal 
place.  Papa  made  me  appear  in  my  Sunday  gown  every  day, 
sit  at  the  table  foot,  be  as  mum  as  a  mouse,  and  act  like  a  fine 
lady.  My  orders  were  to  hear  all  and  say  nothing,  unless 
called  upon  to  answer  questions.  I  was  to  be  neither  pert  nor 
flippant,  and  under  pain  of  frightening  the  bishops  was  to  wear 
a  becoming  soberness  and  modesty.  In  the  morning  time  I 
showed  the  gentlemen  round  the  gardens  and  the  grottoes. 
And  I  say,  Ned,  when  we  came  to  the  pavilion  beside  the 
runnel,  one  very  fine  lord  begged  for  a  kiss,  and  he  was  my 
lord  Churchill.  I  said  he  might  have  one  if  he  would  tell  me 
how  he  led  the  storming  party  before  Nimeguen.  And  he  told 
me  all  about  it." 

The  look  that  lighted  her  face  just  then,  e'en  though  to  this 
hour  it  haunts  my  mind,  defies  me  to  interpret  it  on  paper. 
But  for  myself,  had  I  tried,  I  could  not  have  concealed  my 
anger  and  alarm.  I  had  heard  more  than  one  waif  word  re- 
garding the  reputation  of  his  lordship.  Her  father,  too,  seemed 
in  a  similar  case.  I  believe  his  fingers  itched  to  strike  her. 
As  'twas,  he  used  a  speech  I  dare  not  set  down,  lest  it  should 
offend  your  sight,  and  looked  unutterable  things. 


1 7 2  MfSTKESS  DORO THY  MAR VLV. 

The  girl  said  nothing.  First  she  gazed  at  me,  then  at  her 
sire  ;  but  next  instant  the  blood  flew  to  her  face,  and  in  cold 
politeness  she  curtsied  nearly  to  the  ground. 

"Gentlemen,"  she  said,  "you  do  me  too  much  honor.  I  am 
entirely  overcome  by  the  loftiness  of  your  opinion  of  me." 

The  biting  sarcasm  of  her  tone  cut  me  keener  than  a  sword- 
thrust.  This  speech  delivered,  she  deliberately  turned  her 
back  on  us,  and  walked  to  the  door  exceeding  stately,  her  head 
erect,  and  her  chin  poised  towards  the  ceiling.  But  suddenly 
she  stopped,  and,  to  my  amazement,  once  more  turned  about 
and  faced  us.  Lo !  her  countenance  was  fiercely  red,  and 
'twas  evident  her  anger  had  not  in  the  least  abated. 

"Gentlemen,"  the  tempestuous  maid  continued  cruelly,  "  I 
had  merely  meant  to  jest  with  you,  to  astonish  you.  and  to 
laugh  at  you  ;  though  had  1  for  a  moment  guessed  that  the 
price  of  this  diversion  involved  an  insult  to  myself,  I  should 
have  kept  clear  of  so  dangerous  a  topic.  But  since  you  have 
so  high  a  conception  of  my  conduct,  I  will  tell  you  the  sequel 
to  my  story.  When  my  lord  claimed  his  reward,  I  proffered 
him  my  hand.  '  Nay,  nay,  my  pretty  ! '  those  were  his  own 
words,  gentlemen,  '  I  must  have  something  even  lovelier  than 
this.  Sweet  Daphne,  I  must  have  thy  lips,'  says  he.  '  My 
lord  Churchill,'  says  I,  '  I  do  but  proffer  you  that  which  my 
lady  Churchill  would  proffer  you  were  she  at  your  back  just 
now.  Only,  I'm  thinking  you  might  find  her  hand  much 
heavier  than  mine,  and  it  might  even  leave 'a  sting  behind  it.' 
There,  gentlemen,  that  was  my  reply,  and  ere  he  could  retort 
I  left  him,  and  ne'er  spoke  one  other  word  to  him  so  long  as 
'he  remained  under  my  father's  roof.  Now  look  foolish — sooth 
you  do  so  to  the  very  life  !  " 

Who  would  have  dared  to  stand  up  thus,  and  have  said  all 
this  to  her  father  and  her  lover  ?  None,  I  think,  but  one  of 
sublime  courage ;  none,  but  one  inspired  by  intensity  of  in- 
nocence. Kinsmen,  I  do  believe  that  if  only  a  woman  be 
spurred  sufficient,  she  can  compass  deeds  that  the  boldest  man 
would  shrink  from.  To  his  eternal  credit,  the  knight  forgot 
his  punishment  in  mighty  admiration  of  his  daughter.  Yet  the 
man  had  no  idea  of  delicacy. 

"  Par  Dieu !  mon  ami,"  said  he  to  me,  though  Dorothy  still 
had  her  scornful  eyes  on  us,  "  there's  a  streak  o'  the  right  stuff 
in  that  young  wench.  You  can't  buy  breed,  and  you  can't 
disguise  it.  That's  a  bit  o'  the  Marvin  pride.  She  gets  it  from 
her  dad.  It's  not  to  be  sneezed  at  neither.  You  Armstrongs 
have  a  pretty  conceit  of  yours,  but  it  can't  compare  with  ours." 


THE  COUNCIL  AT  KELSTON  MANOR.  173 

This  panegyric  completely  killed  the  maiden's  wrath.  Beyond 
all  beings  I  ever  met,  she  had  the  fine  trait  of  speaking  her 
mind  whenever  her  mind  was  hurt,  and  then  of  suddenly  casting 
off  her  anger.  She  never  sulked  or  nursed  a  petty  grievance. 
J  verily  believe  (kinsmen,  I  hope  you  appreciate  my  surprising 
honesty)  that  when  she  was  fully  roused  she  could  say  crueller 
things  than  any  of  her  sex,  but  when  she  had  said  her  say,  the 
matter  with  her  was  dead.  Of  course  this  doth  not  apply  to 
deep  and  lasting  wrongs  that  might  be  inflicted  on  her,  but 
merely  to  small  vexations,  because,  being  her  father's  daughter, 
she  ne'er  forgot  abiding  injuries.  But  on  this  occasion,  the 
injury  being  on  the  surface  only,  she  readily  forgave.  However, 
so  deeply  had  her  finest  sensibilities  been  pricked,  that  for  a 
full  hour  afterwards  she  very  rightly  treated  us  pair  of  arrant 
dunderpates  and  dullards  with  a  tinge  of  condescension. 

Presently  another  cloud  dimmed  the  horizon.  It  came  out  in 
course  of  conversation  that  the  maid  had  been  obliged  to  suffer 
another  hardship.  During  the  stay  of  the  visitors  at  the  manor, 
every  inch  of  sleeping-space  being  occupied,  at  the  instigation 
of  Sir  Nicholas,  who  deemed  his  daughter  the  least  important 
person  then  enjoying  his  hospitality,  sh'e  had  been  compelled 
to  make  her  bed  on  a  bundle  of  straw  in  the  hay-loft. 

"  And  ye  need  not  decry  it,"  put  in  the  knight  with  asperity ; 
"  you  kitten-hearted  creatures  don't  know  when  ye're  well  off. 
Ton  my  soul,  many's  the  time  I  would  have  paid  gold  guineas 
to  have  had  the  loft  wi'out  the  straw.  When  you  come  to  have 
a  limb  or  two  broken,  and  are  lying  helpless  on  a  battle-field, 
with  nought  but  the  sky  to  cover  you,  and  a  score  degrees  of 
frost  creeping  to  your  bones  through  the  holes  in  your  body, 
then's  the  time  to  pull  a  lip,  and  bethink  yourself  hard  done  to. 
Bah,  wench,  I'm  ashamed  o'  thee  !  " 

I  invariably  noticed  that  when  the  callous  old  wretch  was 
called  upon  to  defend  his  conduct,  he  scarce  ever  failed  to  do 
so  at  the  expense  of  this  young  lady,  whom  I  certainly  con- 
sidered the  most  hapless  and  long-suffering  of  her  sex.  Verily, 
the  knight  was  no  more  fit  to  have  a  daughter  for  his  sole 
companion,  than  a  lion  is  to  have  a  lamb.  1  laugh  now  as  I 
recall  my  youthful  indignation  at  this  new  brutality  thrust  upon 
the  maiden.  Yet  so  much  was  the  harsh  warrior  wrapped  up 
in  himself,  and  to  such  an  extent  had  the  reprehensible  habit 
grown  upon  him  of  looking  at  all  things  from  a  personal  aspect, 
that  I  am  confident  he  did  not  scrutinize  the  matter  in  a  rational 
light ;  and  am  not  sure  either  that  the  victim  herself  did  not 
take  her  own  squeamishness  to  task  for  being  so  nice  upon  the 

12 


1 74  MtSTRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VIN. 

matter ;  anyway,  she  usually  embraced  her  parent's  sentiments 
on  all  subjects,  because,  copying  his  method  she  consistently 
rated  herself  a  good  deal  below  her  proper  value. 

"  Much  hath  been  done  at  this  meeting,"  said  the  knight. 
"  'Tis  real  business  with  us  now.  An  invitation  hath  been 
drawn  up  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Prince  of  Orange,  for  him  to 
come  over  and  take  the  throne.  It  hath  been  duly  signed  by 
several  of  the  most  influential  men  in  the  realm,  including — 

"  That  good  bishop  who  fuddled  himself  with  Madeira.  Mea 
culpa  !  what  a  woefully  wicked  suggestion."  This  was  inserted 
by  Mistress  Dorothy,  who  broke  off  short,  and,  with  an  im- 
pudent merriment,  crossed  herself  devoutly. 

"  Including,"  her  father  continued,  setting  aside  the  interrup- 
tion with  an  angry  glare,  "  my  lords  of  Shrewsbury,  Devonshire, 
Danby,  and  Lumley.  Russell,  Lord  Admiral  of  England,  Bishop 
Compton,  and  Master  Henry  Sidney,  poor  Algernon's  brother. 
Yes,  mon  frere,  the  fat  is  fairly  on  the  fire  now,  and  we  shall 
be  all  anxiety  for  the  Prince's  answer.  Furthermore,  we  have 
discussed,  at  length,  the  best  coast  for  him  to  land  on,  should 
he  undertake  this  venture." 

"  And  which  have  ye  chosen?"     I  asked,  full  of  interest. 

"  My  lord  Danby  hath  very  urgently  advocated  the  coast  of 
Yorkshire.  He  hath  great  influence  in  that  county,  and  could 
soon  effect  a  rising  there.  He  assures  us  the  gentry  in  that 
part  are  favorably  affected  to  the  cause,  and  the  roads  are 
wondrous  good  to  within  fifty  miles  of  London.  We  have 
debated  this  proposal,  and  seeing  that  in  these  parts  folk  seem 
quite  overawed  by  what  took  place  when  Monmouth  came,  we 
feel  justified  in  setting  the  West  aside,  and  choosing  Yorkshire. 
Again,  my  lord  Shrewsbury  declared  that  the  Londoners  loathe 
the  Stuart,  and  that  when  the  news  of  the  bishops'  acquittal 
was  noised  abroad,  the  troops  on  Hounslow  Heath  broke  out 
cheering,  even  in  the  hearing  of  the  King." 

As  the  knight  fittingly  observed,  there  could  be  no  drawing 
back  now.  The  kingdom  was  moving  on  towards  great  events. 
For  mine  own  part  I  cared  not  for  the  question  of  religion,  nor 
even  for  that  of  the  nation's  welfare.  A  hideous  wrong  had 
been  done  one  well-beloved  ;  a  crime  had  been  committed  on 
his  defenceless  body  under  the  cloak  of  Justice,  and  with  my 
dying  breath  I  would  have  cursed  his  murderers,  Judge  Jeffreys 
and  the  King.  I  had  sworn  to  execute  vengeance  upon  them, 
and,  cost  what  it  might,  was  determined  to  bring  my  oath  to 
fruition.  Regarding  my  personal  misfortunes,  perhaps,  accord- 
ing to  law,  they  were  deserved,  as  I  had  been  guilty  of  high 


THE  INCONVENIENCE  OF  A  CONSCIENCE.          175 

treason,  so  that  on  that  score  I  had  no  grievance.  Yet  the 
horrid  deed  inflicted  on  my  father  festered  enough  to  occasion 
insane  delight  when  I  heard  of  the  bold,  determined  mien  of  the 
plotters.  As  affairs  were  going,  all  things  seemed  to  prosper 
the  enterprise,  for  it  was  widely  averred  that  none,  save  papists 
and  beggarly  Irish,  had  any  love  for  James. 

That  night  love  and  vengeance  held  an  orgy  in  my  head. 
Vengeance  is  a  dark  unholy  passion  which  I  pray,  my  children, 
may  ne'er  be  harbored  in  your  hearts.  'Tis  a  gnawing  beast- 
like  passion  which  hath  no  bounds  to  girdle  it.  A  man  with  that 
within  him  is  a  being  whom  I  would  bid  you  shun.  To  crave 
after  it  and  live  for  it,  to  build  high  hopes  and  relentless  de- 
lights upon  it,  and  to  cherish  it  more  dearly  than  life  itself,  as 
I  take  shame  to  say  your  father  did,  is  godless,  vile,  and  horri- 
ble. And  love  !  To  set  one  beside  the  other,  and  to  ponder 
on  the  two  of  them,  is  to  heed  the  greatest  powers  of  earth.  I 
cannot  tell  you,  kinsmen,  what  it  is  when  they  run  side  by  side 
in  one  man's  brain.  Although,  as  the  world  goes  on  to-day, 
it  went  on  yesterday,  so  ye  must  perforce,  in  your  pilgrimage 
through  life,  encounter  torn  creatures. with  both  these  pas- 
sions intermingled.  Let  such  have  your  pity,  for  they  need  it 
sorely.  Beside  vengeance,  there  were  other  hopes  ;  by  driv- 
ing the  King  away,  and  setting  up  another  government,  I 
should  cease  to  be  a  proscribed  outlaw.  And,  when  I  was  that 
no  longer,  I  had  ideas  for  the  future.  Some  of  you  may  wish 
to  hear  the  substance  of  these  ideas ;  sure  you  are  not  gifted 
with  abundance  of  penetration. 

Perchance,  having  poor  memories,  you  have  already  forgot- 
ten Kelston  Manor,  the  bower  beside  the  stream,  my  lord 
Churchill,  and  the  boon  he  sought  there  ?  Not  that  you  and  I 
are  at  all  concerned  about  him.  But  the  token  he  had  tried  to 
win  from  Mistress  Dorothy,  I  might  win  ere  long  more  easily. 
All  this,  and  one  short  day  agone  I  had  stained  myself  with 
another  crime. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  INCONVENIENCE  OF  A  CONSCIENCE. 

THE  circumstance  I  now  narrate  occurred  about  a  week  after 
the  meeting  at  the  manor  had  dispersed.  Peradventure,  had 
it  not  been  for  this  insignificant  affair,  I  should  ne'er  have 
summoned  the  temerity  to  write  one  word  of  this  history. 


176  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

As  I  recollect,  it  was  a  glorious  day  of  midsummer,  when  the 
air  was  soft  and  fragrant,  the  sun  warm  and  generous  in  the 
heavens,  the  bees  droning  lazily,  and  all  nature  sleepy,  except 
the  busy  flies  atop  of  the  shimmering  stream.  Dorothy  and  I 
sate  side  by  side  on  the  brink  of  the  glistening  water,  under 
overhanging  branches,  which  were  adequate  shelter  from  the 
fierce  rays  of  sunlight  that  streamed  from  a  cloudless  sky. 
She  smiled  at  me  with  an  insinuating  playfulness. 

"  Tell  me,  Ned,"  she  asked,  methought  a  trifle  saucily,  "  how 
it  is  you  come  here  so  very  often  now  ?  " 

"  Fie,  mistress,  that  is  a  needless  question  !  "  said  I,  smiling 
too.  "  You  know  the  reason  far  better  than  I  can  tell  you." 

"  Aha,  my  master,  1  sniff  an  evasion  there !  I  tell  thee 
frankly  'twill  not  serve,  sir.  How  should  I  know  what  brings 
thee  hither  ? " 

All  the  same,  kinsmen,  she  did  know.  Her  half-veiled  look 
of  laughter  told  me  that.  However,  in  her  present  mood,  she 
would  not  avow  the  knowledge,  so  in  the  course  of  time  I  was 
driven  to  admit  what  called  for  my  frequent  presence. 

"  Dorothy,  'tis  for  thee  I  come." 

"  Indeed,  Master  Ned,  and  that's  a  beautiful  compliment.  I 
had  no  idea  of  that  now." 

I  can  never  quite  forget  that  sight  of  her — the  sway  of  her 
crisp  brown  curls  as  she  shook  her  head  at  me,  her  eyes  brim- 
ming half  with  fun,  half  with  impudence ;  the  sweet  ripple  of 
her  brows  in  coquettish  simulation  of  surpiise,  and  her  joyous 
ring  of  laughter. 

"  Mistress,  thou  hast  wrung  a  confession  out  of  me,  so  'tis 
fitting  thou  shouldst  pay  for  it !  "  With  a  sudden  movement  I 
had  her  unawares,  seized  her  hand,  breathed  my  lips  upon  it, 
and  thus  straightway  snatched  the  payment. 

At  this  she  jumped  up  quick  as  any  squirrel,  saying — 

"  Ned  Armstrong,  how  easily  you  forget  yourself !  That,  sir, 
is  a  liberty  I  will  not  brook." 

But,  kinsmen,  truth  to  tell,  her  voice  belied  her  words. 

Her  face  1  did  not  see,  neither  did  I  dare  to  glance  at  it ;  for 
as  I  made  that  sudden  movement,  my  hand  brushed  against  a 
hard  substance  in  the  pocket  of  my  doublet,  and  in  an  instant 
the  tuuth  flew  in  my  mind — the  hard  substance  was  the  rim  of  my 
lord  Sunder  land's  purse. 

The  laughter  was  struck  out  of  my  voice  ;  I  felt  my  limbs 
grow  palsied,  and  my  brain  grow  cold  and  numb.  In  very 
shame  I  turned  my  face  from  my  companion.  How  could  I — 
how  dare  I  jest  and  talk  with  her  on  terms  approaching  a  sus- 


THE  INCONVENIENCE  OF  A  CONSCIENCE.          177 

picion  of  equality  ?  Was  I  not  a  thief,  a  dishonorable  man,  a 
low  trickster,  a  deceitful  villain  ? 

The  girl  had  already  noted  my  change  of  countenance. 

"  What  ails  thee,  Ned  ?  "     Her  query  was  soft  and  anxious. 

I  tried  to  laugh  and  scout  my  illness  as  a  little  thing,  but 
must  chronicle  a  failure.  Thus,  in  face  of  it,  I  answered 
feebly — 

"  I  believe  the  sun  hath  caught  me,  Dorothy."  From  which 
will  be  seen  I  was  still  able  to  use  my  tongue  sufficiently  to  lie 
with. 

She  ne'er  doubted  that  what  I  averred  was  true,  though,  had 
she  paused,  she  might  have  done  ;  for  it  was  indeed  scant  sun- 
shine that  was  able  to  penetrate  the  thick  tree  boughs  which 
clustered  in  a  green  canopy  above  us.  But  it  did  not  enter  her 
head  to  question  the  source  of  this  sudden  malady.  So  away 
she  ran  to  a  place  where  the  bank  sloped  downwards  to  the 
river's  brim,  and  caught  as  much  water  as  her  hat  and  mine 
would  carry.  She  plied  this  to  my  forehead  with  exquisite  ten- 
derness, and  ne'er  ceased  her  anxieties  or  her  careful  task  of 
restoration  till  I  was  on  my  legs  again,  and  till  she  had  satisfied 
herself  that  my  recovery  was  effected. 

Soon  I  left  the  manor  and  returned  to  the  King's  Head  mis- 
erable, heart-torn,  and  quite  tired  of  life.  For  days  and  weeks 
events  had  been  slowly  drifting  towards  one  supreme  crisis.  It 
had  now  arrived  ;  this  instinct  told  me  more  thoroughly  than  tome 
upon  tome  of  clergy.  A  very  little  thing  had  sufficed  to  set  my 
conscience  and  my  sins  one  against  the  other  in  open  warfare ; 
and  they  had  now  to  fight  the  matter  out  between  them.  Thus 
I  went  back  to  Bridgwater  with  my  mind  already  on  the  rack. 

During  that  short  journey  it  had  a  bitter  foretaste  of  impend- 
ing tortures.  'Twas  evident  that  until  some  resolution  was 
arrived  at  I  could  not  pay  another  visit  to  the  manor,  and 
though  I  often  pined  for  a  sight  of  my  darling,  I  kept  four  miles 
between  her  and  myself  till  I  had  determined  on  my  course  of 
action. 

You  are  to  plainly  understand,  ere  I  go  further,  that  I  had 
been  fashion'd  weak  in  the  moral  nature.  Perhaps  ye  are  al- 
ready aware  of  this  ;  and  whether  this  is  or  is  not  the  case,  in 
the  interests  of  the  narrative  I  must  impress  the  fact. 

Upon  arriving  at  the  King's  Head,  I  betook  myself  straight 
to  my  chamber,  locked  the  door,  sat  down  on  the  edge  of  the 
bed  and  tried  to  think.  On  that  day,  at  least,  the  result  was 
melancholy,  for  I  ended  by  abusing  fate.  My  brain  seemed 
fire ;  my  head  a  whirlpool  of  torment.  An  absurdly  simple 


178  AflSTKESS  DOROTHY  MAR VIN. 

circumstance  had  washed  down  the  barrier  of  self-deceit,  and 
the  long-pent  stream  of  remorse  and  fear  came  rushing  through 
the  bursted  flood-gates.  Methought  I  saw  the  Hand  of  God  in 
the  horrid  business.  Hence  arose  my  terror,  for  to  the  guilty 
it  is  an  awful  sight. 

You  have  observed  how  a  short  time  agone  my  better  parts 
had  triumphed  sufficiently  over  infamy  to  let  me  make  an  honest 
resolve.  Also  you  have  seen  how  cowardice  overcame  me  at 
the  last  moment,  and  how  the  knowledge  of  that  cowardice 
caused  me  to  become  more  reckless  and  desperate  than  ever. 
Now  the  fruits  of  it  had  struck  a  crushing  blow.  My  duty  was 
plain,  too  plain  !  Honor,  conscience,  and  self-respect  bade  me 
go  at  once  and  reveal  my  secret.  In  my  weakness,  I  was  unable 
to  muster  a  sufficiency  of  courage.  Even  had  I  the  desire,  I 
knew  I  ne'er  could  play  the  same  cold-blooded  game  again. 
The  stroke  had  been  too  sudden  and  too  severe  for  its  lesson 
to  pass  unheeded.  I  must  either  make  a  confession  of  my  call- 
ing, and  so  run  appalling  risks,  else  relinquish  all  hope  of  my 
mistress  without  seeking  her  forgiveness.  Either  alternative 
required  strength  and  fortitude.  In  the  first  case  the  danger 
was  fearful,  whilst  the  second  was  almost  a  torment  to  think  of. 
How  could  I,  Ned  Armstrong,  forego  forever  the  sight  of 
Dorothy's  eyes,  the  sound  of  her  voice,  the  thoughts  of  her  love, 
and  the  delights  of  her  society  ?  No,  no ;  I  must  make  one 
effort,  one  wild  attempt ! 

Day  after  day  fled,  still  my  heart  never  rose  higher  than  my 
boots.  Heaven  knows,  I  grappled  hard  with  cowardice,  and 
also  fought  the  devil.  Often  enough  he  whispered,  "  Why  this 
to  do  ?  Keep  to  the  old  game  till  William  comes  ;  you  will  not 
be  an  outlaw  then."  I  thank  God  I  paid  no  heed  to  this  atro- 
cious counsel  of  Black  Ned,  for  verily  it  was  his,  and  not  Ned 
Armstrong's  advocacy.  Hereabouts  I  knew  not  peace  at  any 
time  ;  but  lay  awake  with  throbbing  head  through  the  madden- 
ing watches  of  the  night,  all  kinds  of  fretful  phantasies  besetting 
him  who  longed  for  a  tentative  peep  of  dawn  in  the  morning. 
Not  that  daylight  was  any  benefit  when  it  came,  only  'twas  less 
dreadful  than  the  ghostly  night. 

One  evening  I  sate  listless  and  limp  in  the  small  parlor, 
when  mine  host  Whipple  was  sucking  his  pipe  and  sipping  his 
black  jack  of  October,  as  per  long-established  custom  at  this 
hour  of  the  day.  Now,  this  gentleman,  ever  since  that  dire 
afternoon,  had  marvelled  much  in  his  secret  way  at  what  strange  • 
power  had  held  me  ;  but  being  a  discreet  fellow,  and  won- 
drous sagacious  withal,  had  ne'er  pressed  for  an  answer  to  the 


THE  INCONVENIENCE  OF  A  CONSCIENCE.          179 

riddle.  Howbeit,  this  particular  night,  my  friend,  in  a  seem- 
ingly casual  fashion,  sought  enlightenment  on  the  subject.  I 
was  musing  deep  and  pensive,  thus  when  the  question  was  pro- 
pounded, I  groaned,  unthinkingly — 

"  Conscience  ! " 

"  Conscience,  quotha  !  "  cried  he,  upon  the  instant.  "Didst 
say  conscience  ?  Faith,  lad,  thy  case  is  indeed  a  sorry  one." 

This  interest  of  his  aroused  me  somewhat. 

"  I  feel  for  thee  indeed,  brother,"  Pete  went  on.  "  Of  a 
surety,  thou  wilt  ne'er  rise  in  thy  profession.  Alack  !  I  too  am 
cursed  with  one.  I  am  a  kindred  spirit  o'  thine,  d'ye  see  ?  A 
conscience  is  the  most  damnable  encumbrance  that  belongs  to 
man.  Long  Bob  Bickers  had  the  rare  good  fortune  to  be  with- 
out one  ;  an'  for  downright  greatness  o'  mind,  that  man  I  will 
commend  to  anybody.  Often  enough  he  would  say  to  me, 
'  Friend  Whipple,  thou'rt  a  mighty  piece  too  conscientious. 
'Tis  a  grievous  error — correct  it !  Dig  a  hole  in  your  back 
garden,  and  bury  it  deep,  then  that  will  be  the  most  truly 
blessed  day  thou  hast  ever  known.'  Now,  if  ye  seek  to  rise  in 
the  profession,  follow  that  true  advice,  and  go  straightway  and 
hide  it  somewhere,  whither  it  may  ne'er  again  exhibit  its  ugly 
mug  to  trouble  thee." 

"  Then  how  comes  it,  Pete,  that  you  have  failed  to  follow 
this  shrewd  counsel  ?" 

"  Alas !  there's  the  rub.  Methinks  old  Dame  Nature  built 
me  for  the  Church ;  for  'oons,  man,  my  conscience  is  like  an 
evil  spirit.  'Twill  not  bide  in  its  grave.  Many  a  time  have  I 
put  it  under  the  sod,  but,  zounds !  the  accursed  thing  will 
always  rise  again  to  haunt  me.  Maybe  it  hath  been  snugly 
planted  'neath  the  ground  for  a  week,  and  I  may  fittingly  be 
rubbing  mine  hands  over  a  sweet  cargo  of  the  rarest  liquors 
which  hath  just  been  safely  thralled  in  the  cellar,  when,  burn 
me  !  a  pathetic  voice  will  whisper  into  mine  ear,  '  Good  friend, 
art  aware  this  cargo  hath  not  burthened  His  Majesty's  Rev- 
enue one  farthing  ? '  Beastly  uncomfortable,  I  can  tell  you,  to 
be  thus  reminded,  for,  'twixt  ourselves,  I  would  fain  have  for- 
gotten the  fact.  Ah  me !  if  it  be  a  case  of  conscience,  thy 
plight  is  evil,  and  I  feel  for  thee.  Bury  it,  lad ;  bury  it  deep 
from  the  light  o'  day." 

"  Pete,"  said  I,  laughing,  in  spite  of  myself,  and  this  was  the 
first  laugh  I  had  known  for  a  week,  "  I'm  afeared  I'm  like  you, 
and  that  Dame  Nature  meant  me  for  the  Church  as  well.  This 
beast  o'  mine  ne'er  fails  to  rise  from  the  dead.  It,  too,  will  not 
rest  in  its  grave." 


l8o  MISTRESS  DOKOTHY  MARVIN. 

Peter  Whipple  sighed  lamentably  at  this  avowal,  declaring 
my  case  to  be  extremely  pitiful.  And  after  that,  being  com- 
panions in  misfortune,  we  drank  each  other's  health  in  the  Oc- 
tober, though  all  the  while  mine  host,  with  scarce  a  pause,  went 
on  to  relate  the  manifold  advantages  the  illustrious  Long  Bob 
Bickers  did  enjoy  by  being  mercifully  released  from  the  toils  of 
conscience.  For  the  behoof  of  the  ignorant,  I  here  set  it  down 
that  Long  Bob  Bickers  was  hanged  before  Taunton  jail  in  the 
year  1684,  and  was  afterwards  drawn  and  quartered. 

The  struggle  that  was  tearing  me  asunder  lasted  ten  days, 
and  I  believe  there  did  not  exist  a  more  distracted  creature  in 
any  shire  of  the  kingdom.  As  time  went  by,  this  consuming 
indecision  steadily  began  to  make  its  presence  felt  upon  body 
as  well  as  mind.  Once  or  twice  I  grimly  smiled  as  I  looked  in 
the  mirror  and  saw  the  transformation  taking  place  in  my 
countenance.  Instead  of  a  healthy,  keen-faced  fellow  meeting 
my  gaze,  I  beheld  a  leaden  wretch,  hollow-eyed  and  white. 
However,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  tenth  day  of  torture,  I  over- 
heard a  piece  of  news,  and  though  it  had  no  precise  bearing 
upon  my  case,  it  served  to  accomplish  what  weary  hours  of  self- 
reviling  and  self-communion  had  failed  in.  It  befell  that  I  was 
in  the  little  parlor,  and  was  unconsciously  listening  to  Peter 
regaling  his  customers  with  the  latest  gossip  in  the  common 
room.  The  door  was  open,  therefore  every  word  was  audible. 

"  Death  hath  been  truly  busy  among  us,"  I  heard  the  landlord 
say.  "Joe  Barton  the  baker  hath  lost  his  old  woman.  She 
gave  up  the  ghost  yestere'en.  And  Moll  Wardell  fell  down- 
stairs and  broke  her  neck  this  morning  ;  tho'  they  do  say  she 
was  the  worse  for  liquor,  else  'twould  ne'er  have  happened." 

"Ay,  gossips;  but  the  man  wi'  the  scythe  calls  away  the 
mighty  as  well  as  the  lowly,"  quoth  a  listener,  his  sentiment 
cheap,  but  his  delivery  uncommonly  consequential.  "  Tom 
Carson  the  chandler  hath  just  told  me  that  Sir  Peter  Armstrong, 
of  Copeland  Hall,  was  found  stiff  in  his  bed  this  morning." 

"  Oh,  indeed  ! "  exclaimed  three  or  four ;  for  my  uncle's 
name  stood  high  in  the  county. 

"  I  would  I  were  his  heir,"  said  another. 

But  when  the  rightful  heir  of  the  deceased  Sir  Peter  heard 
this  recounted,  he  did  not  think  it  entirely  a  blessing.  Not 
because  he  was  bowed  with  grief  for  the  loss  of  his  miserly 
kinsman,  but  because  it  added  another  pang  to  his  position  ; 
for,  being  an  outlaw,  he  would  be  unable  to  touch  a  groat  from 
his  fat  coffers. 


ALAS!  181 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

A.LAS  ! 

BY  the  time  I  had  fully  grasped  this  news,  an  indisputable 
truth  was  clearly  presented  to  my  mind.  By  the  death  of  my 
uncle,  it  was  highly  probable  that  inquiries  would  be  set  on  foot 
regarding  the  heir,  and  it  was  equally  as  probable  that  his 
connection  with  Black  Ned  the  highwayman  would  be  revealed. 
Should  events  so  happen,  the  truth  would  indubitably  be  learned 
by  Sir  Nicholas  and  his  daughter  from  other  lips  than  mine. 
And  should  this  occur,  my  name  and  memory  would  in  their 
sight  be  branded  with  tenfold  blacker  infamy.  Therefore 
immediate  action  became  imperative. 

This  was  the  truth  I  had  gathered.  The  knowledge  served 
as  a  spur  to  my  courage.  Methought  I  must  be  unworthy  of 
the  name  of  man  to  forfeit  my  one  hope  "by  dallying  longer.  A 
week's  delay,  and  my  confession  might  come  to  them  as  a 
necessary,  instead  of  a  voluntary^  act.  So  plain  was  this  con- 
tingency to  my  understanding  that  in  ten  minutes  I  had  managed, 
incited  thereby,  to  screw  up  my  courage  to  its  highest  level,  and 
to  form  the  long-needed  resolution.  One  final  spasm  of  doubt, 
one  final  struggle  between  right  and  wrong,  and  honor  triumphed 
for  the  moment  in  my  soul — I  made  up  my  mind,  come  what 
might,  to  set  out  for  Kelston  Manor  forthwith,  and  acknowledge 
my  cruelty  and  deceit. 

I  spoke  to  none,  but  straightway  betook  myself  to  my  bed- 
room and  dressed  myself  in  my  choicest  suit.  If  I  must  be 
hanged,  methought  I  would  grace  the  scaffold  in  my  Sunday 
garments.  Never  did  criminal  attire  himself  on  his  execution 
morning  with  more  pain  and  suspense  than  I  did  then.  As  I 
donned  my  plush  breeches  and  cambric  shirt,  I  remembered  the 
precision  with  which  so  many  times  I  had  put  them  on  to  enjoy 
the  maid's  society.  As  I  adjusted  and  powdered  my  wig,  I 
remembered  how  I  had  studied  the  mode  of  displaying  it  to  the 
best  advantage  ;  the  object  had  been  the  same.  And  now  I 
was  going  to  pay  the  score.  I  had  tossed  off  my  draughts  of 
.happiness ;  had  drunk  so  deep  of  it  that  Nemesis  had  laid  a 
commanding  hand  upon  my  shoulder,  and  had  sternly  called  on 
me  to  pay  the  reckoning.  And  I  was  going  to  pay  it !  O  God  ! 


182  AffSTRESS  DORO  THY  MARVIN. 

I  was  going  to  pay  it !  Well  might  my  strength  ooze  from  my 
limbs  as  I  walked  Joe  out  of  the  inn  yard,  and  my  heart  turn 
cold  with  terror. 

Suspense  is  a  double-edged  sword  that  cuts  two  ways  ;  it  at- 
tacks both  mind  and  body.  Thus,  as  I  rode  to  the  manor  that 
summer  evening,  my  brain  seemed  paralyzed  midway  between 
hope  and  fear,  my  spirit  withered  and  sapless,  and  my  body, 
now  fevered,  now  frozen,  by  reason  of  the  same  emotions.  I 
knew  I  had  made  my  mistress  love  me ;  but  was  her  love  hot 
enough  and  sufficiently  magnanimous  to  forgive  my  baseness? 

By  the  time  I  had  traversed  half  the  distance,  the  devil  once 
more  whispered,  "  Why  jeopardize  your  chances  thus  ?  'Tis 
not  necessary.  You  have  played  the  game  so  long,  that  one 
day  more  or  one  day  less  can  make  no  difference."  1  tightened 
Joe's  rein,  halted,  and  considered  its  plausibility.  Yes;  why 
scruple  now  ?  Could  present  conscientiousness  avail  for  the 
past,  or  assure  forgiveness  for  the  future  ?  Why  not  play  the 
game  to  the  finish  ?  Was  not  atonement  coming  too  late  ? 
What  did  it  matter  if  the  confession  was  made  now  or  a  month 
hence,  would  there  not  be  still  the  same  blot  on  my  honor,  the 
same  irremediable  stain  on  my  name,  which  no  repentance 
could  purge  away  ?  An  instant's  hesitation,  and  the  wiles  of 
Satan  were  overcome.  Instinctively  I  felt  the  rim  of  Sunder- 
land's  purse  touch  my  finger  tips,  and  there  was  no  disregard- 
ing that  cold  reminder,  for  as  1  have  already  said,  I  saw  in  it 
the  Hand  of  God. 

Now  and  then  a  hare  darted  across  the  path  a  few  yards 
ahead,  or  a  covey  of  partridges  flew  up  with  a  startled  whirr 
from  a  clump  of  grass  or  a  wayside  thicket.  I  could  see  the 
mist  rising  far  across  the  fields,  and  swathing  the  extremities 
of  the  landscape  in  a  floating  whiteness.  Yet  I  had  no  thoughts 
for  such  sights  and  sounds  as  these.  Could  Sir  Nicholas  for- 
give me  ?  Could  Dorothy  forgive  me  ?  At  every  step  those 
questions  sang  in  my  ears  till  they  turned  to  a  delirious  dirge. 
If  I  were  not  a  thief,  not  a  liar,  not  a  cheat,  not  a  trickster  !  I 
would  cheerfully  have  given  my  right  hand  or  ten  years  of  my 
life  to  have  wiped  those  titles  from  my  name.  My  heart  sank 
as  I  approached  my  journey's  end.  Was  I  once  more  to  play 
the  craven  ?  I  braced  myself  for  the  ordeal,  because  when  the 
manor  gates  hove  in  sight,  'twas  like  steel  to  my  vitals ;  how- 
ever, I  sent  Joe  forward,  whilst  the  man  who  rode  him  fought 
his  unseen  foe. 

At  this  moment  a  blackbird  piped  out  cheerily  from  among 
the  brushwood.  It  seemed  to  mock  me  with  its  jubilation. 


ALAS!  183 

Nature  seemed  to  mock  me  too  in  the  sweetness  of  her  quie- 
tude ;  the  dew  on  the  grass  and  the  hedgerows'  bloom  menaced 
my  sight  with  their  beauty  and  repose.  Defeating  Satan  for 
the  second  time,  I  dismissed  my  qualms,  and  for  good  or  evil 
shook  Joe's  bridle,  whereat  he  moved  smartly  to  the  entrance. 
To  the  end  of  life  I  shall  ever  associate  this  task  with  going 
forth  to  have  a  stout  grinder  drawn  from  my  head.  Yet  I  doubt 
not,  had  I  been  allowed  to  choose  between  having  all  the  teeth 
pulled  out  of  my  mouth  and  the  pursuance  of  this  business,  I 
should  have  chosen  to  forfeit  the  teeth. 

As  we  went  through  the  manor  gates  the  sun  was  dipping 
below  the  horizon,  leaving  a  patch  of  purple  in  its  track ;  the 
summer  air  was  cooling  after  the  heat  of  the  day ;  the  cattle 
lowed  in  the  meadows  and  sucked  in  the  cool  sweetness  of  the 
evening;  and  over  hill  and  dale  all  was  peace  and  exceeding 
calm.  More  qualms  came  to  the  coward  when  the  vane  and 
chimney-stacks  grew  visible  among  the  trees. 

I  dismounted  and  tethered  Joe  in  front  of  the  house,  not 
taking  the  trouble  to  put  him  in  the  stable,  as  I  felt  I  should 
not  remain  inside  for  long.  I  went  up  the  steps,  and  walked 
through  the  front  door  without  the  ceremony  of  a  knock,  this 
being  my  wont,  so  much  at  home  was  I  at  that  house.  I  dis- 
covered the  knight  and  his  daughter  in  the  large  apartment  we 
had  passed  so  many  cheerful  hours  in.  The  knight  was  in  his 
usual  posture  beside  the  grate,  his  concoctions  hard  by  his 
elbow,  whilst  opposite  him  Dorothy  was  seated,  a  ponderous 
volume  on  her  knee,  bearing  the  inscription  on  the  outer  cover, 
"An  honest  and  faithful  account  of  His  most  Christian  Majes- 
ty's late  Campaign  against  the  Dutch,  for  the  Publick  weal." 

She  no  sooner  lifted  her  eyes — her  glorious  eyes  ! — and  be- 
held me  in  the  arch  of  the  doorway,  than  she  slapped  the  book 
with  a  thud  on  to  the  carpet,  and  her  face  was  lit  with  glee,  as 
she  said — 

"  Father,  here  is  the  deserter  ! " 

This  welcome  hit  me  hard. 

Sir  Nicholas  also  was  well  pleased  to  see  me,  his  solitary  eye 
yielding  as  much  beneficence  as  it  could. 

"  Oh,  Ned,"  asked  the  girl,  and  her  tone  was  wistful,  "  what 
have  we  done  to  you  that  you  should  shun  us  so  ?  'Tis  ten 
days  since  last  I  saw  you." 

At  first  I  did  not  give  an  answer,  not  being  able  to  find  a 
word.  In  the  midst  of  this  pause  she  gave  a  keener  look  at 
me,  and  saw  my  tell-tale  looks. 

"  Ah,  poor  lad !     I  see  thou  hast  indeed  been  ailing.     Me- 


1 84  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR VI N. 

thought  that  day  'twas  but  a  passing  malady,  but  methinks 
thou  must  have  suffered  by  thy  face.  Art  better  now,  Ned  ? " 

She  spoke  these  last  four  words  so  tenderly,  and  with  such  an 
accent  of  womanly  pity,  that  'twas  as  much  as  1  could  bear  to 
hear  her. 

"  I  am  better  now,  Dorothy,"  I  mumbled,  for  to  distinctly 
frame  and  utter  words  was  a  sheer  impossibility. 

"  I  greatly  fear  thou  art  still  unwell,"  she  said  again,  her 
tone  being  still  impregnated  with  anxiety. 

'Twas  in  sooth  a  terrible  malady  that  held  me  in  its  claws  ; 
the  dark  fiend,  self-reproach,  froze  my  blood,  and  turned  my 
heart  to  ice.  My  errand  was  never  absent  from  my  mind.  It 
would  not  leave  it  for  an  instant.  When  I  replied  to  her  eager 
queries  it  was  only  by  exercise  of  fortitude  that  any  words 
would  come.  Perceiving  this  difficulty  of  speech,  as  well  as 
the  other  matters,  she  withheld  questions  for  a  while,  and 
superintended  the  drawing  of  the  curtains  and  the  shutters  and 
the  lighting  of  the  candles. 

The  knight,  caring  nought  for  the  ailments  of  any  save  him- 
self, bid  me  as  heretofore,  play  him  at  piquet.  I  did  so,  hop- 
ing thereby  to  compose  myself  for  the  coming  ordeal.  This 
proceeding  was  most  unkind  towards  Joe,  who  was  still  tethered 
in  the  open.  Such  was  my  woeful  state  of  mind,  that  I  dared 
scarcely  look  at  Dorothy,  although  the  maid  looked  much  at 
me,  and  was  greatly  distressed  on  my  account.  She  brought 
cushions  for  my  back,  and  sought  to  enliven  me  by  brewing 
some  mysterious  French  concoction,  which  she  set  much  store 
by ;  and  whatever  it  might  be  it  was  choicely  good. 

These  ministrations  had  but  the  scantiest  effect.  In  spite  of 
myself  my  spirits  were  still  gloomy  and  my  demeanor  down- 
cast ;  though  I  tried  hard  enough  to  banish  the  devouring 
demon  that  embraced  me,  if  only  to  please  my  darling.  But 
the  brave  maid  was  nowise  daunted  by  this  ill-assortment  of 
my  humor.  Never  had  I  known  her  preserve  gravity  for  very 
long,  and  thus,  this  fatal  night,  seeing  that  sedateness  was  un- 
availing, she  assumed  sprightliness  once  more,  and  this  made 
me  somewhat  easier,  though  foreboding  still  sate  like  a  pall 
upon  my  heart.  Despite  the  chill  within,  I  had  perforce  to 
laugh  at  various  whimsical  incidents  which  had  occurred  at  the 
manor  during  the  great  conclave.  Yet  the  last  of  these  I  did 
not  even  smile  at. 

"Ned,  you  ought  to  have  been  here,  sir,  on  the  last  morning 
of  their  stay,"  she  gayly  said,  then  paused  to  laugh  at  the  recol- 
lection. "  My  lord  Sunderland  went  forth  on  the  road,  a  couple 


ALAS!  185 

of  servitors  behind  him,  to  procure  an  appetite  for  breakfast. 
I  heard  him  tell  daddy  the  night  before  that  nought  was  so 
agreeable  to  his  taste  as  a  quiet  rural  ride  ere  he  broke  his  fast 
of  a  morning.  However,  in  about  an  hour  after  he  set  out,  my 
lord  came  back  in  a  dreadful  fume,  vowing  vengeance  on  that 
wicked  namesake  o'  thine,  Black  Ned,  the  highwayman.  Faith 
he  is  a  bold  rogue !  He  actually  robbed  my  lord  and  his  serv- 
ants of  every  stiver  they  had  upon  them — a  goodly  sum,  I'm 
thinking,  for  my  lord  swore  that  the  knave  had  taken  every 
groat  he  had  brought  from  London,  and  that  he  had  no  money 
with  which  to  return  to  Town.  Sure  methought  the  fellow 
would  ne'er  cease  to  prate  about  his  losses.  I'm  sure  he's  a 
lickpenny;  and,  also,  I'm  equally  as  certain  that  a  bad  time 
is  in  store  for  his  two  attendants.  Very  loud  he  was  in  reviling 
their  cowardly  conduct.  Furthermore,  he  hath  sworn  to  inter- 
est the  King  in  the  matter,  and  seeks  to  have  the  villain  arrested 
at  any  cost." 

No,  I  never  smiled  at  this ;  nor  even  looked  at  the  narrator. 
I  continued  to  play  piquet,  a  hot  stream  of  blood  in  my  head, 
and  my  breath  coming  short  and  painful.  All  things  seemed 
to  conduce  towards  the  rememoration  of  my  guilt ;  here  was 
one  more  reminder.  I  now' felt  that  the  crisis  was  at  hand,  yet 
still  I  sat  and  played.  How  to  say  what  I  had  got  to  say,  how 
to  make  some  amends  by  word  of  mouth,  how  to  preserve  my 
calm  and  so  do  justice  to  my  case  were  matters  beyond  my 
comprehension. 

The  knight  was  playing  with  his  usual  vivacity,  and  Mistress 
Marvin  was  laughing  at  me  one  minute  and  pitying  me  the 
next,  when  I  began  again  to  calculate  the  prospect.  Could 
they  forget?  Could  they  forgive  ?  At  this  renewal  of  suspense 
I  commenced  the  sorry  business. 

'Twas  during  a  pause  in  the  game.  Sir  Nicholas  was  seated 
opposite  at  the  card-table,  whilst  Dorothy  was  behind  me,  so  I 
was  midway  between  the  two. 

"  Sir  Knight,  some  weeks  agone  you  swore  an  oath  not  to 
reveal  my  true  name  to  any  one  because  of  my  outlawry."  I 
had  hoped  to  speak  quite  clearly,  yet  as  the  first  words  issued 
from  my  lips,  something  jumped  in  my  throat,  and  made  my 
utterance  harsh  and  indistinct. 

"  That's  so,"  he  said. 

"  Now,  sir,  I  would  like  you  to  swear  to  me  again  that  same, 
for,  in  face  of  what  I  am  about  to  say,  you  may  be  tempted  to 
forget  it." 

"I  have  ne'er  forgotten  one  yet,"  he  said  sharply,  nay,  angrily. 


l86  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

I  had  offended  him  at  the  outset.  Methought  it  an  evil 
beginning.  Dorothy,  usually  so  quick  of  wit,  failed  to  discover 
any  omen  of  what  was  pending,  for  she  laughed  outright  at  my 
request  and  my  unwonted  tone  of  seriousness.  Her  father,  how- 
ever, exhibited  a  face  of  perplexity. 

"  I  have  something  to  divulge,"  said  I,  my  voice  getting 
huskier  at  every  word.  "  I  am  Black  Ned,  the  highwayman." 

The  knight  said  nothing,  but  raised  his  head  slowly  from  the 
table  and  peered  straight  into  my  eyes.  A  trill  of  laughter  came 
from  behind  me.  I  turned  my  face  to  Dorothy,  and  in  an  instant 
she  grasped  its  import.  The  laugh  died  on  her  lips,  and  terror 
superseded  mirth. 

"  Ned,  why  d'ye  look  at  me  like  that  ? "  she  gasped,  horrified 
and  tremulous. 

Meantime  her  father  had  planted  his  elbows  on  the  table, 
and  was  still  gazing  at  my  visage,  as  though  to  read  my  very 
soul. 

"  What  d'ye  mean  ? ''  he  asked.  "  Art  not  John  Armstrong's 
son  ? " 

"Yes,"  I  said  simply;  "'tis  on  that  account  I  gave  you  a 
reminder  of  your  oath.  'Twould  do  the  family  much  injury, 
should  the  truth  leak  out  concerning  me.  Terrible  misfortune 
hath  dogged  me  since  Monmouth's  rebellion.  It  hath  brought 
me  to  this." 

The  speech  fell  cold  and  barren  from  the  lips  like  words  from 
a  dead  man's  throat.  I  heard  half  a  sob  and  half  a  sigh  against 
my  shoulder.  At  that  my  heart  sank  down,  down,  down  !  forti- 
tude deserted  me,  and  despair  enslaved  my  very  soul.  I  covered 
my  face  with  my  hands.  Next  moment  I  looked  at  Sir  Nicholas 
again,  and  found  him  staring  still. 

By  this  an  icy  smile  had  come  on  his  lips,  and  his  eye  stupefied 
me  with  its  silent  cruelty. 

"  So  thou  art  Black  Ned,  the  dirtiest  rogue  unhung." 

His  voice  was  horrible.  'Twas  not  stormy  nor  passionate. 
Twas  measured,  relentless,  cold-blooded ;  it  made  me  shud- 
der. 

I  said  nothing. 

"  The  dirtiest  rogue  unhung,"  he  repeated,  his  one  eye  des- 
titute of  pity.  "  And  so,  Black  Ned,  I  have  been  winning  stolen 
monies  day  by  day  from  you.  And  why  have  ye  let  me  win 
them  ?  Dost  think  I  am  blind  ?  Dost  think  I  cannot  see  with 
one  eye  only  ?  Dost  think  I  am  too  old  to  watch  you  and  my 
poor  lass  very  often  ?  You  have  come  hither,  week  in  and  week 
out,  with  a  smile  on  your  lips  and  a  lie  on  your  tongue,  ynu 


ALAS!  187 

smooth  villain  !  You  plausible  villain  !  You  have  duped  that 
girl,  have  you  ?  I've  only  one  eye,  have  I  ?  I'm  easily  blinded, 
hey  ?  But  I've  two  hands,  Sir  Thief ;  ye  shall  have  early  proof 
o'  that." 

That  was  the  end  of  his  awful  calm. 

"  Oh,  oh  !  my  God  ! "  he  screeched,  and  jammed  his  hands 
upon  his  wig  as  if  to  save  his  head  from  bursting.  He  looked 
at  his  daughter  then,  his  face  inhuman  in  its  eagerness.  'Twas 
as  though  his  life  depended  on  what  he  saw.  At  once  I  guessed 
his  meaning,  and  there  came  a  confirmation  presently. 

For  a  full  score  seconds  he  glared  at  her  with  such  an  unearthly 
gaze  that  methinks,  had  it  alone  held  the  truth,  he  would  have 
torn  her  heart  out  to  obtain  it. 

"  Praise  God  !  "  he  cried  at  last,  and  crossed  himself  for  the 
only  time  in  all  my  dealings  with  him.  Afterwards  he  fell  a- 
babbling  to  himself,  in  a  tone  that  was  scarcely  audible.  "  No, 
no  ;  she's  my  child — her  mother's  child  !  The  viper's  balked  ! 
God  be  praised  !  " 

I  heard  him.  'Twas  a  bitter  stab ;  bitter  enough  to  drive  a 
man  to  desperation.  Dorothy  also  heard  him.  The  words 
wrung  a  moan  from  her  proud  pure  lips. 

I  had  had  one  secret  pride,  perhaps  a  frail  one.  It  was  that 
I  had  cherished  a  spotless  passion.  Kinsmen,  do  not  dare  to 
doubt  me !  But  the  knight  did  more ;  he  condemned  me.  'Twas 
the  last  straw ;  from  that  minute  I  cared  for  nought. 

His  face  distorted  with  rage,  the  knight  sprang  up  from  the 
table.  I  rose,  too,  whilst  Dorothy,  who  had  been  on  her  feet 
some  time,  stood  beside  me  white  and  terrified. 

"  Girl,"  the  man  said  brutally,  pushing  her  towards  the  door, 
"get  you  gone,  leave  this  cur  to  me."  Thereat  he  ran  to  the 
wall  and  grabbed  the  Perillo  blade. 

Ofttimes,  in  after  years,  we  can  hot  account  for  our  actions  at 
such  crises  ;  and  now  I  come  to  think  of  mine  in  this  extremity, 
I  cannot  give  an  explanation.  I  can  only  say  that  as  the  man 
turned  round  I  whipped  out  my  sword,  snapped  it  across  my 
knee,  and  flung  the  broken  steel  clinking  on  the  hearth  among 
the  fire-irons. 

Sir  Nicholas  ran  forward;  yet  I  was  pr spared  to  die  without 
a  blow.  I  felt  utterly  incapable  of  striking  one  against  this 
man — the  man  I  had  so  deeply  wronged.  My  arms  fell  numbed 
and  useless.  Inert  and  apathetic,  I  hung  them  limply  by  my 
sides,  without  a  thought  for  life,  for  my  undefended  breast,  or 
the  thirsty  steel.  The  man  crashed  aside  the  card-table,  and 
it,  the  cards  and  money,  went  rattling  on  the  hearthrug.  How- 


1 88  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR  VIN. 

ever,  as  he  came  towards  me,  his  daughter  slipped  between  us. 
She  clung  by  both  hands  to  his  neck  and  shoulders,  and  tried 
with  all  her  strength  to  hold  him  from  me. 

"  Do  not  kill  him,  sir !  do  not  kill  him  ! "  she  passionately 
pleaded. 

The  fiendish  fellow  had  no  need  for  her,  nor  had  he  any 
mercy.  He  said  no  word,  but  shook  himself  free,  grasped  her 
slender  wrists  in  his  left  hand,  crushed  them  till  she  screamed 
with  pain,  then  slung  her  yards  away,  and  she  only  stopped  when 
she  bumped  against  the  mantelpiece. 

I  knew  my  time  was  come.  The  man  was  mad  ;  the  lust  of 
blood  was  in  his  face.  I  was  half  blinded  by  his  gleaming  steel 
as  he  shot  forth  his  arm  to  deal  the  blow.  Instinctively  I  drew 
back  a  step  before  it,  whereat  a  streak  of  white  jumped  'twixt 
my  breast  and  the  darting  blade,  and,  strange  to  say,  the  knight 
recoiled,  and  with  a  fearful  word  dropped  his  sword  upon  the 
carpet.  Yet  I  felt  no  pain  :  no  twinge  of  agony.  Between  us 
stood  my  mistress  dazed  and  quivering,  blood  soaking  through 
and  dripping  from  her  white  dress  sleeve.  Soon  I  understood 
the  presence  of  that  gory  arm  ;  'twas  this  that  had  saved  me 
from  the  steel. 

"  Father  !  "  she  cried  wildly,  "  he  is  unarmed.  Do  not  kill 
him  ;  'twould  be  murder.  Do  you  not  see  he  is  unarmed  ?  " 

"  Fight,  you  villain  !  "  he  howled  beside  himself ;  "  fight,  you 
hound,  and  I  will  spit  you  !  Dost  hear  me  ?" 

My  tongue  being  dumb,  I  found  no  word  of  answer.  He  fell 
into  a  paroxysm  of  rage,  and  heaped  curse  after  curse  upon  me. 
Still  I  could  not  fight  him  ;  and  though  he  itched  to  strike 
me  dead,  he  refrained,  mainly,  I  believe,  because  he  found  me 
passive. 

"  Ye  refuse  ?  Malefactor,  do  but  set  foot  on  my  land  once 
more,  and  ye  shall  be  dipped  head  foremost  in  the  midden  till 
you  die.  Ye've  escaped  justice  so  far,  but  'tis  not  for  long.  I 
will  move  heaven  and  earth  to  hang  you.  Begone,  child  of 
hell !  A  curse  go  with  thee  !  " 

Overcome  with  anger,  he  clenched  his  fist  and  hit  me  in  the 
face,  and  for  the  only  time  in  all  my  life  I  took  a  blow  in 
silence.  I  quailed  before  his  dread  malignity  ;  it  recalled  that 
of  the  arch-fiend  Jeffreys. 

I  found  Dorothy  already  in  the  hall.  She  opened  the  outer 
door,  and  stood  beside  it  awaiting  my  departure.  I  stopped 
involuntarily  as  I  neared  the  threshold.  I  was  chilled  by  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  and  the  wind  shrieking  in  the  copse. 
Could  I  leave  her  thus  without  a  word,  without  a  plea,  without 


ALAS/  189 

a  mitigation  of  her  anger?  But  the  mere  sight  of  her  sufficed 
to  daunt  me, 

Standing  there  hard  and  rigid,  she  drew  herself  to  her  fullest 
height,  and  gazed  at  me  with  unutterable  loathing.  She  was 
the  cruelest  creature  I  ever  saw.  Her  bearing  was  truly  brutal 
in  its  studied  scorn,  and  her  face  had  never  a  spark  of  pity  in 
it.  As  I  approached  and  stood  beside  her,  she  drew  her  skirts 
together  as  though  fearful  I  should  touch  them.  She  did  this 
ostentatiously,  and  hurt  me  with  her  cruel  eyes — 'tis  a  woman's 
way  of  bullying.  At  first  she  gave  no  speech,  but  maintained 
the  torture  with  her  look. 

"  Get  you  hence,  you  dog !  "  she  said  at  last,  and  waved  one 
arm  towards  the  door. 

'Twas  her  wounded  arm,  and  as  she  shook  it  warm  drops  of 
blood  plashed  upon  my  face,  and  even  touched  my  lips — the 
blood  she  had  spilled  for  me  !  The  thought  nerved  my  courage 
and  quickened  me  with  life  ;  therefore  I  disobeyed,  and  still 
remained  gazing  at  the  blood,  her  own  blood,  dripping  from 
her  sleeve.  How  could  I  accept  vituperation  for  farewell  ?  So 
I  vainly  stayed  for  a  sign  of  hope,  one  grain  of  mercy.  I 
craved  for  these,  quite  wild  with  desperation. 

"  Dorothy  !  " 

"  You  Armstrong  !  "  she  whispered  softly — so  softly  that  her 
lips  seemed  to  caress  the  words  as  they  stole  slowly  from  her 
throat.  Coming  at  that  time,  this  unearthly  softness  numbed 
me  ;  'twas  a  thing  fathomless,  a  thing  outside  nature.  'Twas 
then  I  had  a  terror  of  the  girl ;  her  voice  set  a  fear-blight  on 
the  heart  But  I  could  not,  dare  not  leave  her  so.  I  stam- 
mered •"  Mercy  !  "  and  bent  my  head,  whereat  she  bent  hers 
also,  peered  up  in  my  face,  and  her  eyes  they  scorched  my 
brain.  Ere  I  could  think  of  what  was  toward,  she  sprang  like 
a  tiger  at  the  wall,  and  twitched  therefrom  her  father's  great 
black  riding-whip.  She  swung  it  round  her  head  ;  I  saw  the 
snake-like  lash  glide  quivering  through  the  air  ;  heard  a  hissing 
"whish,"  and  thought  my  face  was  cut  in  two. 

I  turned  and  fled  like  rain  before  the  wind.  I  stumbled  into 
Joe's  saddle,  untethered  him,  and,  nearly  blind,  pulled  his  head 
and  set  him  on  his  course.  As  I  did  so,  the  door  was  closed 
against  me,  and  this  re-echoed  in  my  soul,  for  'twas  the  closing 
of  the  door  of  Hope. 

I  rode  from  that  house  of  torture,  heart  and  face  each  torn 
and  bleeding.  I  dug  the  spurs  in  my  horse's  flanks,  and  he, 
poor  brute,  leapt  through  the  darkness,  faithful  and  uncomplain- 
ing. The  night  was  inky  black,  the  atmosphere  heavy  and 
13 


1 90  MISTRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VIN. 

muddled,  and  charged  with  a  coming  tempest.  I  galloped  Joe 
over  hedge  and  ditch,  hill  and  dale,  through  wood  and  thicket, 
crop  and  pasturage,  but  never  on  the  straight  highway.  Soon 
the  dull  thunder  rumbled  overhead,  the  lightning  leapt  along 
the  sky,  and  the  heavens  spat  upon  the  earth.  The  rain  poured 
down  in  a  soaking  sheet,  wetting  me  to  the  skin,  and  snatching 
what  breath  was  left  in  my  miserable  body;  yet  I  did  but  bury 
the  wicked  spurs  the  deeper,  and  the  animal,  faltering  not, 
dashed  through  it  all,  and  for  a  time  defied  its  rider  and  the 
elements.  Presently  the  water  streamed  off  the  pair  of  us, 
though  that  was  no  care  of  mine.  My  only  cares  were  the 
knight,  his  daughter,  the  bang  of  the  manor  door,  and  the  blow 
that  seamed  my  face. 

Thrice  I  pitched  out  of  the  saddle  ;  but,  being  stark  mad,  it 
did  not  affect  my  neck,  so  I  remounted  only  to  ply  the  spurs 
afresh.  Shortly  I  felt  the  brave  fellow's  limbs  were  flagging ; 
and  still  he  did  his  best.  Alas,  poor  Joe  !  horses  have  better 
hearts  than  men.  I  knew  his  strides  were  not  now  so  strong 
or  certain,  tho'  like  a  fiend  I  urged  him  on,  the  brunt  of  the 
storm  in  our  teeth,  and  the  gloom  an  expanse  of  ink. 

It  may  have  been  hours,  for  aught  I  know,  when  horse  and 
man  came  crawling  into  the  yard  of  the  King's  Head,  Bridg- 
water,  the  animal  clothed  with  mud  and  frothy  foam,  the  rider 
a  prey  to  madness.  His  eyes  were  bloodshot,  his  gait  unsteady, 
and  his  soul  sickened  and  despairing. 

I  called  hoarsely  to  the  ostler,  who  came  running  to  do  my 
services,  just  as  Joe  sank  down,  with  torn  and  bloody  flanks, 
through  sheer  exhaustion.  I  reeled  into  the  little  parlor  some- 
how, and  flung  myself  in  a  chair,  and  lay  there  panting  and 
streaming  with  water.  I  was  conscious  of  nothing  but  the  throb- 
bing of  my  flesh  where  the  lash  had  bitten  it. 

By  and  by  Peter  Whipple  opened  the  door  softly  and  put  his 
head  in.  He  gave  a  glance  at  me,  and  muttered  just  three 
words — "  Damn  the  women  !  " — then  cleared  out  quick  and 
closed  the  door  behind  him. 

Following  that,  I  was  not  again  disturbed ;  mine  host  was 
the  wisest  man  I  ever  knew.  1  lay  there,  bereft  of  wits.  I 
tried  to  think,  but  my  brain  was  dull ;  to  talk,  but  my  tongue 
was  dumb;  to  move,  but  my  limbs  refused  to  do  my  bidding. 
Once  I  tried  to  weep,  but  even  that  pleasure  was  denied.  At 
length,  quite  suddenly,  I  burst  out  laughing.  I  jumped  up, 
vivified  by  some  strange  power,  and  set  up  peal  after  peal  of 
laughter.  After  that  I  danced  and  sung,  bit  my  hands  and 
gnawed  my  finger-nails  ;  then  flung  myself  full  length  on  the 


THE  COUNTING  OF  THE  COST. 


191 


floor  with  heaving  chest,  useless  legs,  and  with  only  the  power 
to  groan. 

In  time,  daylight  crept  through  the  chinks  in  the  shutters, 
and  I  got  up  only  to  fall  down,  but  tried  again  and  was  more 
successful.  Step  by  step  I  crawled  into  the  yard.  The  serv- 
ing-men, who  chanced  to  be  up  already,  hung  back  apprehen- 
sively from  me,  upon  seeing  my  strange  appearance. 

The  first  thing  I  perceived  in  the  yard  was  a  dark  mass  lying 
impotent  on  the  cobble-stones.  I  approached  unsuspectingly, 
and  saw  it  was  a  horse  stretched  lifeless.  'Twas  Joe  lying  dead. 
He  lay  with  glassy  eyeballs  staring  wide,  his  limbs  stiff  and  full 
extended,  and  his  visible  flank  smeared  with  blood  and  torn  and 
jagged.  I  uttered  a  cry  of  horror.  This  brought  the  ostler 
from  the  stable. 

"  Ye've  diied  vor  un,  I  rackon,"  he  said,  shaking  his  head. 

"  Nay,  friend,"  I  said,  e'en  though  I  knew  the  truth. 

I  went  down  on  my  knees  beside  his  head,  stroked  his  cold 
muzzle,  and  called  him  twice  by  name. 

The  ostler  shook  his  head  again,  and  slowly  growled — 

"  'E  wor  a  fery  vine  'oss,  'e  wor.  I  rackon  I  nivver  knawed 
wan  wi'  zich  a  hairt  as  thickee ;  noa,  nor  nivver  wan  zo  mild  an' 
vree  froom  vice,  an'  zo  purty  i'  th'  making.'1 

"  Peace,  fool !  "  I  shouted  hotly ;  then  rose  and  seized  him  by 
the  jerkin,  crying,  "  Not  another  word,  you  clod !  " 

'Twas  more  than  I  could  bear. 


%  CHAPTER  XX. 

THE   COUNTING    OF   THE   COST, 

I  WALKED  unsteadily  back  to  the  parlor.  There  I  sought  to 
draw  my  rapier  from  its  scabbard,  but  found  it  empty.  The 
blade  lay  in  the  grate  at  the  manor.  I  hunted  for  a  weapon  ; 
and  sure  enough  the  devil,  in  his  forethought,  had  caused  a 
dagger  in  a  case  to  be  hung  up  as  furniture  on  the  wall.  I  laid 
eager  hands  upon  it,  ran  one  finger  along  the  edge,  and  felt 
quite  cheerful  to  find  it  keen.  Placing  it  upon  the  table,  I 
gloated  over  it  with  an  hysterical  kind  of  rapture. 

I  wondered  what  death  was  like,  and  was  filled  with  qualms 
for  the  vague  hereafter.  It  is  certain  I  should  have  made  an 
end  of  life  upon  the  spot,  had  not  a  vision  of  that  autumn  night 


I 9  2  MIS 'TR ESS  DOROTHY  MA  R  VI N. 

of  '85  rushed  upon  me.  And  here  we  have  a  paradox — 'twas 
only  the  dream  of  vengeance,  the  nonfulfilment  of  the  devil's 
compact  that  snatched  me  from  the  jaws  of  hell.  So  with  re- 
luctant ringers  I  replaced  the  weapon  on  the  wall,  then  opened 
the  window  and  let  in  the  morning  air.  I  stood  and  gazed 
upon  the  street,  and  saw  the  housewives  busy  with  mop  and 
bucket,  scrubbing  the  steps  and  cobble-stones,  as  each  chatted 
to  her  next-door  neighbor.  Also  I  watched  the  plough-boys  go 
singing  and  whistling  past  the  door,  and  the  farm  hands  close 
after  them,  laughing  and  joking,  as  they  called  for  an  early 
draught  at  Peter  Whipple's  hostel.  In  the  darkness  of  my  soul 
I  cursed  them.  Why  were  such  hinds  as  these  light-hearted, 
when  I,  Sir  Edward  Armstrong,  baronet,  rightful  heir  to  lands 
and  revenues  and  rich  estates,  was  the  most  miserable  man  on 
the  surface  of  the  earth  ? 

If  ever  Peter  Whipple  showed  discretion,  it  was  during  the 
week  that  followed  these  events.  Some  men  have  an  instinct 
of  what  to  do  and  how  to  do  it  under  all  varieties  of  circum- 
stances. Such  folks  are  never  at  a  loss,  no  matter  what  tricks 
the  world  may  play  themselves  or  their  fellow-creatures.  Their 
mental  faculties  are  elastic,  they  expand  according  to  the  de- 
mands of  the  occasion.  Thus  it  was  mine  host  had  nought  at 
all  to  say  anent  my  strange  return  that  night — the  fate  of  Joe, 
and  the  weal  that  stretched  in  a  blue-white  streak  from  my 
forehead  to  my  jaw.  Herein  lay  great  kindliness  and  wisdom. 
Furthermore,  he  performed  many  well-meant  offices,  which  left 
me  much  impressed  by  his  friendly  disposition. 

'Twill  serve  no  purpose  to  dilate  on  my  hopeless  frame  of 
mind.  Those  were  dark  bitter  days  of  vain  revilings  against 
God  and  Fate,  of  futile  regrets,  and  of  black  despair.  Doubt- 
less you  who  read  have  already  foreseen  a  similar  disaster. 

During  that  week  I  slunk  about  disconsolate,  trying  to  decide 
on  my  future  course  of  action.  To  visit  the  manor  again,  in 
face  of  the  treatment  I  had  received,  would  be  nothing  short  of 
folly;  tho',  in  spite  of  this,  an  idiotic  whim  took  possession  of 
my  senses.  It  seemed  an  utter  impossibility  to  my  disordered 
mind  that  I  could  live  without  seeing  Dorothy  again.  I  brought 
common  sense  to  bear  upon  the  question,  but,  beyond  clearly 
demonstrating  that  Ned  Armstrong  was  a  fool,  it  gave  him  no 
other  sort  of  recompense.  'Tis  a  bootless  thing  to  reason  with 
love,  for  'tis  a  most  unreasonable  passion.  It  matters  not  a 
papist's  malediction  whether  Amaryllis  loves  you,  so  long  as 
you  love  Amaryllis.  Next  I  thought  of  the  blow  that  had 
sealed  the  tragedy  of  the  fatal  night.  I  still  bore  its  impress 


THE  COUNTING  OF  THE  COST.  193 

on  my  cheek,  and  its  pain  was  branded  in  my  heart  for  all 
time.  Yet  I  no  sooner  recollected  this  than  it  was  more  than 
counterbalanced  ;  Mistress  Marvin  had  shed  her  own  life-blood 
to  save  me.  My  pulses  throbbed ;  'twas  a  glow  of  hope. 
Could  she  by  any  unsuspected  chance  forgive  me  ?  Yet  the 
hopelessness  of  the  thing  was  always  there.  How  could  a  gen- 
tlewoman forgive  a  common  thief  ?  Again,  even  if  she  felt 
disposed  to  overlook  my  crimes,  I  knew  enough  of  her  father 
to  be  aware  that  he  would  not.  And  his  daughter,  who  loved 
him  so  steadfastly  and  so  exquisitely,  was  not  the  one  to  set 
him  at  defiance,  or  to  act  contrary  to  his  sentiments.  It  has 
since  occurred  to  me  that  the  only  commendable  plan  available 
at  this  time  was  to  accept  Tobe  Hancock's  offer,  and  quit  the 
country  till  happier  times  arrived  ;  but  between  the  ecstatic 
throes  of  imbecile  love  and  the  appetite  for  revenge  against  my 
father's  murderers,  I  never  heeded  it  at  all.  "  If  I  could  but 
see  her  I  should  be  more  content ! "  was  my  mental  cry  for 
days.  It  took  the  form  of  unquenchable  desire.  And  though 
this  maid  was  dead  to  me,  I  craved  for  her  like  one  who 
craves  for  a  friend  who  is  in  the  grave.  The  utter  madness 
of  the  longing  was  a  secondary  matter  ;  so  I  set  my  wits 
to  work  to  get  another  sight  of  her ;  and  hoped  that  such  indul- 
gence of  my  passion  might  satiate  it  for  a  time. 

When  in  a  strait,  a  man  of  imagination,  as  a  general  thing, 
will  find  ways  and  means  to  aid  him.  And  I  cogitated  so 
patiently  on  this  hard  problem,  that  ere  long  I  met  with  due 
reward,  for  I  discovered  a  way  of  furthering  my  yearnings.  I 
knew  the  manor  flower-beds  were  situated  at  the  bottom  of  the 
garden,  which  bordered  on  the  copse ;  and  hither  Mistress 
Marvin  came  each  morning  to  tend  the  flowers  and  pluck  them. 
No  sooner  did  I  recollect  this  than  it  struck  me  I  could  with 
ease  conceal  myself  among  the  brushwood,  and  thus,  unseen, 
could  watch  my  darling — I  still  presumed  to  call  her  that,  in 
spite  of  everything.  I  wasted  no  time  in  the  execution  of  this 
scheme  ;  therefore,  the  following  morning  I  set  out  to  put  the 
plan  in  operation. 

The  sight  of  the  manor  gates  once  more  made  me  wince  ; 
I  remembered  two  dear  friends  who  were  wholly  dead  to  me — 
faithful  Joe,  who  was  dead  to  me  in  body,  and  Dorothy,  who 
was  dead  to  me  in  soul.  And  'twas  I  who  had  killed  them 
both.  'Twould  be  idle  to  state  what  I  would  have  sacrificed  to 
be  able  to  undo  what  I  had  already  done.  Were  we  but  per- 
mitted to  cancel  the  terrible  past,  instead  of  having  to  bury  it, 
this  world  would  be  a  happier  place  than  it  is  at  present.  In 


194  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MAR VI N. 

a  little  while  I  banished  these  reflections,  and  made  my  way 
into  the  heavy  growth  of  brushwood. 

This  stretch  of  it  is  of  wide  extent.  It  begins  a  good  way 
north  of  the  house  itself,  and  runs  along  to  southward  till  the 
stream,  at  the  bottom  of  the  manor  grounds,  is  passed  for 
nearly  half  a  mile.  The  part  of  it  which  forms  the  avenue, 
close  by  the  gates,  is  not  nearly  so  thick  as  it  is  in  other  places  ; 
and  the  branches  being  twined  together,  it  becomes  a  trackless 
patch  of  bough  and  bramble,  with  thick  bracken  underfoot  and 
a  leafy  canopy  above. 

I  plunged  into  this  impenetrable  wilderness,  and  my  clothes 
suffered  sorely  in  the  passage,  because  the  least  trodden  parts 
of  this  pathless  thicket  appeared  a  very  wall  of  briars.  By  dint 
of  perseverance,  I  worked  my  way  to  the  spot  for  my  purpose, 
which  was  on  the  outskirts  of  the  copse,  a  few  yards  hither  side 
the  water.  Here  I  could  command  a  full  view  of  the  flower- 
plot,  and  of  all  who  came  to  meddle  with  it ;  whilst,  better  still, 
did  I  but  use  reasonable  precaution  in  keeping  close  amid  the 
tangled  growth,  none  might  get  a  glimpse  of  me.  To  further 
this  concealment  I  lay  full  length  on  the  grass  and  waited.  I 
was  quite  at  my  ease  herein,  though  the  sun  was  getting  power- 
ful, for  I  reclined  well  in  the  shade. 

Presently  my  ingenuity  met  with  due  reward.  Perhaps  I  had 
been  lying  half  an  hour  in  the  thicket,  when  I  heard  a  light 
quick  step  on  the  gravel  footpath.  I  knew  that  step ;  I  had 
heard  it  many  times.  Directly  afterwards  Mistress  Dorothy 
Marvin  came  down  the  garden  walk,  a  basket  in  her  hand. 
The  first  thing  I  noted  was  that  one  sleeve  had  been  rolled 
back  to  the  elbow,  and  in  lieu  of  it  was  a  big  white  bandage 
bound  firmly  round  her  arm.  This  was  a  sight  to  banish  cool- 
ness. It  sent  the  blood  tingling  in  a  warm  wave  through  me. 
Then  I  noted  another  thing-,  and  I  must  confess  it  pleased  me 
greatly.  I  know  it  was  a  mean  and  selfish  pleasure,  yet  why 
conceal  it  ?  She  was  not  singing  and  whistling  French  melo- 
dies as  usual.  There  was  a  sort  of  wistful  pensiveness  in  her 
face,  and  a  sad  pellucid  softness  in  her  eyes.  I  watched  her 
pluck  a  rose.  For  a  full  minute  she  gazed  at  its  petals,  then 
kissed  it  and  fastened  it  in  the  bosom  of  her  dress.  A  month 
agone  she  had  given  me  arose.  I  had  kissed  it  and  had  pinned 
it  in  my  coat.  Could  it  be  that ? 

A  spasm,  half  thought,  half  emotion,  thrilled  me.  I  was 
both  frightened  and  enraptured  at  this  boyish  folly.  I  had  not 
the  courage  to  look  at  her  just  then  ;  my  mind  held  a  madden- 
ing thought.  Kinsmen,  I  was  very  young.  But  the  next  in- 


THE  COUNTING  OF  THE  COST.  195 

stant  brought  its  quietus.  What  of  the  blow  ?  'Twas  the  hand 
that  held  the  rose  that  struck  it.  'Twas  those  eyes  that  had 
had  a  tiger's  fury  in  them.  'Twas  that  willowy  form  that  had 
menaced  me  with  its  abhorrence. 

Ere  long  she  filled  the  basket,  and  was  on  the  point  of 
returning  to  the  house,  when  the  knight  came  limping  down 
the  path  with  some  papers  in  his  hand.  At  sight  of  him  she 
disguised  her  melancholy,  and  her  face  flushed  with  greeting. 
How  she  loved  that  ugly  wretch  with  his  scarred  face,  his  one 
eye,  his  intemperance,  and  his  filthy  tongue  ! 

And  I,  who  was  so  young,  so  nicely  mannered,  so  well  born, 
and  so  fairly  favored  !  I  will  not  prejudice  your  minds  unduly 
with  my  pettiness ;  but  the  thought  was  hard. 

"  How  now,  papa  ?  "  she  demanded  cheerily  ;  "  what  brings 
you  here,  sir  ?  " 

"  These,"  and  the  knight  held  up  the  documents.  "  I  want 
your  help,  ma  petite.  I  never  was  very  apt  at  scholarship.  A 
courier  hath  just  delivered  me  this  letter.  He  hath  ridden 
express  from  my  lord  of  Shrewsbury." 

"  Ah,  to  be  sure,"  she  laughed  lightly,  "  that  hath  a  weighty 
smack  with  it.  Business  of  the  State'  I'll  be  bound,  or  stay, 
more  likely  of  the  State  that  is  to  be." 

"  I  do  not  doubt  it  very  nearly  touches  his  Highness  the 
Prince,"  he  said. 

She  took  the  letter  from  him,  and  read  the  contents  aloud  for 
his  behoof.  Perchance  it  was  wrong  in  me,  yet  the  fact  re- 
mains, I  strained  mine  ears  and  listened  to  every  word  that 
passed.  Communing  inwardly,  I  argued  that  I  had  good  right 
to  hear  these  matters,  seeing  I  was  a  party  to  the  scheme.  Her 
interpretation  of  it  was  something  like  the  following  : — 

"  To  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin,  my  very  good  friend  :  these — 
"His  Highness  the  Prince  of  Orange  hath  accepted  our  invi- 
tation of  June  30.  It  is  his  purpose,  however,  to  neglect  no 
opportunity.  To  guard  against  any  miscarriage  of  the  scheme, 
he  proposes  to  bring  a  larger  army  with  him  than  we  did  sug- 
gest. He  is  pushing  on  arrangements  with  all  despatch,  and 
trusts  we  are  doing  likewise. 

"  'Tis,  however,  on  a  serious  danger  which  doth  threaten  us 
that  I  seek  to  speak  with  particularity.  Of  late  the  King  hath 
become  gravely  suspicious,  notwithstanding  our  great  care  and 
discretion.  His  Majesty  wears  an  evil  look — I  am  afeared 
some  of  our  names  are  known  to  him.  Perforce  our  meetings 
must  end.  My  friend,  I  regret  to  have  to  counsel  you  to  leave 


1 96  JlfSSTKESS  DOROTHY  MAR VIN. 

this  country,  and  that  right  speedily  \  the  Stuart  certainly  con- 
templates ill  towards  us. 

"  Edward  Sidney  Russell,  and  myself,  set  out  for  the  Hague 
next  week,  and  I  am  sure  it  is  your  best  course  to  follow  us. 
My  Lord  Danby  remains  in  London  to  direct  our  affairs, 
although  his  situation  grows  perilous.  You  know  his  residence, 
and  he  will  offer  you  counsel  on  any  matter  concerning  this  af- 
fair. For  your  information  I  may  say  that  the  barque  Aurora, 
Captain  Coxwell,  hath  been  chartered  to  sail  on  the  first  Mon- 
day of  every  month  from  Harwich,  for  Holland.  Adieu,  my 
friend,  may  God  preserve  you. 

"  SHREWSBURY." 

I  heard  every  word  of  this,  and  also  all  that  passed  between 
the  knight  and  his  daughter. 

"  Mon  Dieu  !  "  exclaimed  Sir  Nicholas,  "  this  hath  an  ugly 
sound,  ma  cherie.  Methinks  'twill  be  a  case  o' flight  instead  o' 
fight,  ere  long  ;  yet  that  irks  me  much." 

"  Hope  for  the  best,  sir ;  should  the  worst  happen,  then  will 
be  the  time  to  fly." 

"  No  use  tarrying  till  you  are  rotting  under  lock  and  key  be- 
fore ye  seek  to  quit  the  country;  the  matter  that  will  give  me 
the  sorest  trouble  is  what  is  to  become  of  you,  my  lass.  We 
are  without  friends  this  side  the  Channel,  and  you  cannot  stay 
here  at  the  manor,  seeing  what  troublous  times  are  so  close  at 
hand.  What  can  I  do  wi'  you,  wench  ?  " 

"  Oh,  if  things  come  to  the  worst,"  she  replied  on  the  point 
of  laughter,  "I  must  turn  soldier  along  with  you,  father,  and 
push  a  pike  for  the  confusion  of  the  tyrant.  How  say  you, 
sir  ? " 

"  You  laugh,  but  methinks  that  will  be  your  only  chance. 
You  can  handle  a  pistol  pretty  tolerable,  and  might  with  some 
little  tuition  wield  a  light  sword  ;  and,  besides,  you  are  well 
acquainted  with  horses.  By  my  troth  thou  hast  really  solved 
a  problem." 

She  looked  at  him,  flushed  a  lovely  scarlet,  became  much 
confused,  and  said  dolefully — 

"  You  are  not  in  earnest,  father,  surely  ?  I  did  but  jest  just 
now.  I  am  afraid  I  should  make  but  a  sorry  soldier,  and  per- 
adventure,  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  I  might  show  the  white 
feather." 

"  What  !  "  and  methought  the  old  warrior  was  about  to  eat 
her,  "you  are  no  child  o'  mine  then  !  Confound  that  pluck  o' 
thine  !  Methinks  there  is  something  radically  amiss  with  it. 


THE  COUNTING  OF  THE  COST.  197 

Show  the  white  feather,  say  you  ?  Old  as  I  am  I  do  but  wish 
there  was  an  enemy  now  to  whom  I  might  have  the  chance  to 
show  it.  By  God,  I'd  show  him  a  sweet  steel  blade  instead, 
and  deftly  handled,  mark  you  !  'Pon  my  soul,  wench,  your 
spirit  is  a  degradation  to  him  that  bred  you." 

"  You  do  me  a  wrong  there,  sir,"  she  answered  swiftly. 

"  Nay,  nay,  craven  heart,  I'm  too  lenient." 

"  I'm  no  craven  heart,  father,  indeed  I'm  not !  'Twas  but  the 
blood  I  was  thinking  of.  It  turns  me  sick." 

"  Bah  !  ye  shame  me  for  sure.  Why,  even  that  black  thiev- 
ing scoundrel  of  an  Armstrong  could  sing  a  better  tune  than 
you  can.  Bad  as  he  is,  he  would  have  made  no  to-do  whatso- 
ever about  a  matter  o'  this  sort ;  yet  you,  my  own  flesh  and 
blood,  shrink  from  it." 

"  Master  Armstrong  Was  very  brave.  Do  not  forget  how  he 
carried  that  missive  to  my  lord  in  face  of  many  dangers,  and 
how " 

"  Hold  !  not  so  damned  much  of  Master  Armstrong,  if  you 
please.  That  low  devil  is  in  your  head  again.  But,  alack  !  it 
grieves  me  to  know  his  courage  puts  thine  to  shame.  Besides, 
as  ye've  told  me  often  yourself,  many  a  Dutch  burgher's  vrouw 
defended  her  homestead  lustily  in  the  days  of  William  the 
Silent,  'gainst  the  tyranny  of  Spain.  And  I'll  swear  that  their 
stork  was  nowise  equal  to  thine  own.  Oh,  woe  is  me  !  to  have 
a  child  like  this.  A  lily-liver,  say  I,  is  the  greatest  curse  that 
may  fall  on  anybody." 

She  looked  at  him  in  silence,  her  face  troubled  ;  but  not  re- 
proachful. As  usual  she  adjudged  the  fire-eater  in  the  right, 
and  doubtless  deemed  herself  a  puny  creature.  Soon  she  cried 
out  warmly — 

"  Father,  I  will  do  as  you  wish.  I  will  cross  the  water  with 
you  and  join  the  army." 

"  That  so,"  he  said  with  some  complacence  ;  "  faith,  that  is 
more  to  thy  credit.  Ma  petite,  I  will  have  thee  hard  by  my 
saddle-bow,  and  I'll  show  thee  how  to  ride  into  battle,  and  how 
to  sweep  infantry  to  perdition,  as  Rupert  was  wont  to  do. 
Hoity-toity,  I  can  sniff  a  brave  time  coming  !  'Twill  be  better 
then,  methinks,  than  brooding  over  glib-tongued  highwaymen. 
It  need  not  be  known  in  camp  y'are  a  wench,  for  mayhap 
'twould  go  against  you,  though  I  fail  to  discern  the  reason. 
Why  should  not  a  maid  be  a  man's  equal  with  proper  training  ? 
Perhaps  'tis  because  many  of  'em  have  a  notable  flaw  in  the 
pluck." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  the  girl  said  staunchly.     "  Methinks  it  will  be  for 


1 98  MJSTXESS  DOROTHY  MAR  VIN. 

the  best.  You  are  everything  to  me;  and  while  you  are  away 
I  should  be  always  moping  and  wondering  whether  any  hurt 
had  stricken  you.  Verily,  this  is  a  brave  idea  of  yours.  I  can 
be  your  body-servant,  whereby  the  pair  of  us  will  be  saved 
anxiety.  I  am  ready  to  start  to-morrow,  if  need  be." 

"  Shoo !  you're  too  fast,  sweetheart.  We  cannot  hope  to 
reach  Harwich  for  this  month's  sailing1.  Yet  we  must  not  fail 
to  be  in  time  for  that  six  weeks  hence,  providing  James  lets  us 
bide  till  then.  In  the  mean  time  we'll  rely  on  fortune." 

These  were  the  last  words  I  heard  pass  between  them,  for 
then  they  walked  out  of  earshot  towards  the  house.  To  me, 
who  had  overheard  it  all,  the  matter  appeared  wondrous  strange. 
To  think  of  this  beautous  gentlewoman  becoming  a  man-at- 
arms,  and  fighting  in  the  forthcoming  war,  was  a  thing  much  too 
weighty  for  my  limited  understanding.  Yet,  without  doubt,  both 
the  knight  and  his  daughter  were  fully  bent  on  bringing  the 
scheme  to  fruition. 

Three  days  later  I  was  watching  in  the  copse  again,  for  the 
weather  still  held  fine,  when  I  overheard  another  conversation 
between  them,  which,  if  of  a  different  nature,  was  of  equally 
great  importance.  This  time  they  came  down  the  path 
together. 

"  I  prefer  the  soldiering,"  the  maid  was  saying. 

"As  you  will,  lass,"  said  the  knight,  with  a  show  of  resigna- 
nation  ;  "but  methought  the  opportunity  a  good  one.  I  like 
the  lad,  he  hath  honor  and  good  courage,  is  well  favored,  and 
is  of  the  best  family  (as,  indeed,  he  must  be,  seeing  how  near  a 
kinsman  he  is  of  your  mother's)  and  hath  a  good  estate.  Also 
his  heart  doth  lean  towards  you,  and  I  half  promised  you  to 
him  when  he  was  over  here  last  year.  'Tis  a  rare  chance  for 
you,  I  wot ;  for  I  wish  to  see  you  safely  cared  for.  I'm  an  old 
bird  now,  and  may  not  be  with  you  long,  but  am  unwilling  to 
leave  you  alone  in  the  world.  You  had  better  consider  this 
matter  carefully.  That  lad  thinks  very  kindly  of  you,  and  I 
tell  you  he  is  honest  and  true,  and  I  like  him  altogether." 

Master  Edward  Armstrong,  hidden  ten  yards  away,  here- 
abouts grew  nervous.  And  he  strained  his  eyes  and  body  not 
to  miss  any  word  or  token  that  was  forthcoming. 

The  maid  shook  her  head. 

"  Don't  be  a  fool ! " 

"  Sir,  I  would  not  like  to  marry  him." 

'Twas  a  heartsome  speech  for  Ned  Armstrong's  ears. 

"  Young  wench,"  replied  the  knight  with  asperity,  "  listen  to 
me.  Don't  be  a  fool.  Ye  have  here  a  fair  prospect  of  being 


THE  COUNTING  OF  THE  COST.  199 

settled  for  life.  The  youth  is  in  all  ways  desirable,  and  I  am 
sure  he  loves  you." 

"  But  I  don't  love  him." 

"  You  don't  love  the  count,"  snarled  the  soldier,  his  anger 
breaking  bounds  at  last.  "  No,  I'll  tell  you  whom  you  love. 
'Tis  that  vile  Black  Ned,  a  common  highwayman.  Yet,  mark 
you  this  very  well,  I  will  know  no  rest  till  that  rogue  hath  had 
justice  executed  upon,  his  dirty,  deceitful,  thieving  body.  Mark 
you  that !  And  how  dare  you  show  airs  and  graces  to  me, 
madam  ?  I  say  you  had  better  marry  M.  le  Comte,  and,  sink 
me,  you  shall !  " 

"  Father,"  Mistress  Dorothy  answered  warmly,  "  three  days 
agone  you  bid  me  turn  soldier,  and  I  was  squeamish  and  liked 
not  the  task.  Yet  I  promised  to  obey  you  ;  and  if  it  please  you, 
sir,  I  will.  Now  you  alter  your  commands,  and  bid  me  marry 
a  miserable  Frenchman,  and  of  men  I  last  would  choose  as- 
suredly he'd  be  a  Frenchman.  I  do  not  care  for  the  lad.  He 
may  be  a  very  excellent  fellow,  no  doubt  he  is ;  but  I  pay  no 
heed  to  him.  No,  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin,  I  will  go  campaigning 
with  you,  sir."  And  she  shook  her  curls  and  stamped  her  foot, 
and  looked  so  bold,  imperious,  and  defiant,  that  the  old  knight 
paused  ere  he  made  answer.  However,  when  speech  came  to 
him,  it  did  so  in  no  uncertain  manner.  From  experience  of  his 
ways,  I  was  aware  that  the  thing  beyond  all  others  that  was 
most  irksome  to  him  was  to  be  thwarted  in  his  projects. 

The  six  languages  were  called  into  requisition ;  but,  as 
usual,  this  torrent  of  abuse  was  very  coolly  taken,  though  I 
trembled  lest  the  desire  to  do  her  father's  will  should  lead  her 
to  alter  her  determination.  To  my  infinite  delight,  she  showed 
no  sign  just  then  of  any  such  proceeding.  In  the  end  he  bade 
her  stay  there,  and  he  would  send  her  cousin,  the  count,  to 
join  her,  that  he  might  press  his  suit  in  person.  From  this  I 
gathered  that  the  young  man  was  in  the  house,  that  these  two 
had  come  out  into  the  garden  to  confer  upon  the  matter.  The 
maiden  lingered  among  the  flowers  awaiting  his  arrival,  and  all 
the  while  I  lay  watching — watching ! 

Presently  the  gravel  of  the  walk  -was  scrunched  underfoot, 
and  as  handsome  a  cavaliero  as  one  might  wish  to  see  came 
along  it  and  saluted  her.  His  features  were  high,  delicate,  and 
clean  cut,  his  apparel  of  the  finest,  plentifully  interlarded  with 
velvet  and  silver,  lace  ruffles  at  his  wrists,  and  a  rapier  by  his 
side.  He  spoke  long  and  rapidly  in  the  French  tongue.  This 
was  to  my  intense  annoyance ;  for,  having  neglected  early 
scholastic  opportunities,  I  was  at  that  time  ignorant  of  the 


200  SI/STRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

language.  And  what  is  the  good  of  being  eavesdropper — an 
unclean  occupation — if  you  cannot  understand  a  word  of  the 
conversation  ? 

Now,  Mistress  Marvin  was  well  acquainted  with  the  foreign 
jargon,  and  though  aught  French  was  so  much  against  her 
taste,  out  of  courtesy  she  answered  in  the  same  mode  of  speech. 
Thus,  between  the  two,  I  was  completely  balked. 

M.  le  Comte  grew  impassioned ;  the  .maid  grew  arch  and 
saucy.  The  young  man  placed  his  hand  on  his  heart,  whilst 
the  fair  one  clasped  hers  behind  her  back,  and  shook  her 
coquettish  curls  at  him  with  a  most  amazing  air  of  impudence. 
At  that  the  gallant  went  down  on  his  knees  before  her — kins- 
men, you  will  understand  he  was  a  Frenchman. 

"Ah  ma  belle  cousine !  je  vous  aime  /"  he  cried  eagerly.  He 
was  not  content  to  say  this  once,  but  several  times  emphatically 
repeated  it.  That  phrase  stuck  in  my  head.  But  'twas  quite 
too  much  for  the  lady's  gravity.  Still  I  can  excuse  that  French- 
man, because  she  never  was  so  irritatingly  lovely  as  when  she 
had  mischief  in  her  eyes.  And  she  had  it  in  them  then. 

"  Raoul,"  she  asked,  in  the  goodly  Anglo-Saxon — doubtless 
she  was  too  warm  to  employ  the  less  familiar  vehicle — "  what  is 
the  French  for  a  clodpoll,  a  lumpish  fellow  ? " 

"  Lourdaud,  my  lovely  cousin,  lourdaud,"  replied  that  in- 
nocent young  Frenchman,  in  extremely  creditable  English. 

"  Then,  Monsieur  Lourdaud,"  said  Mistress  Cruelty,  "  on  to 
your  feet  at  once,  sir  !  You  are  surely  fraying  that  beautiful 
plush  at  the  knees  !  Besides,  I  am  not  in  the  least  edified  when 
J  see  a  kinsman  of  mine  look  like  a  scarecrow  in  a  potato  patch. 
Come,  up  you  get,  sir  !  or,  'pon  my  word,  I'll  laugh  at  you." 
And  faith,  kinsmen,  she  did  laugh  at  him,  and  in  the  most  tan- 
talizing manner. 

My  fine  gentleman  rose  from  his  lowly  posture ;  but  he 
blushed  as  he  did  so,  and  looked  more  than  a  trifle  sheepish. 
Then  the  maid  gave  him  a  sound  talking  to ;  but  to  Ned  Arm- 
strong's disgust  this  harangue  was  in  the  confounded  foreign 
tongue.  Yet  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  his  rival  blush 
again,  and  far  more  deeply,  and  to  watch  him  grow  still  more 
sheepish  in  his  bearing.  Ultimately  the  pair  of  them  went 
away  together,  the  lady  very  voluble,  the  gentleman  very  silent 
— the  lady  laughing,  the  gentleman  glum  and  crestfallen. 

I  felt  almost  sorry  for  the  Frenchman.  He  seemed  a  simple 
lad  enough,  withal  honest,  and  desperately  enamored  of  the 
maid.  He  prosecuted  the  matter  in  a  manly,  straightforward 
way,  and  I  could  not  help  but  think  had  been  very  severely 


THE  GATHERING  OF  THE  STORM.  201 

dealt  with.  My  own  feelings,  you  may  guess,  were  inexplicable. 
Being  young  myself,  and  filled  with  heroic  notions,  I  could  have 
found  it  in  my  heart  to  hate  Dorothy  Marvin  for  her  flippancy. 
She  did  not  seem  to  be  honored  in  the  least,  and  did  not  even 
condescend  to  be  dignified  upon  the  subject.  She  appeared  to 
have  toyed  with  his  affections  in  much  the  same  way  that  a  cat 
does  with  a  mouse,  with  similar  feline  sort  of  claws,  that  leave 
galling  wounds  behind  them. 

Presently  I  left  my  hiding-place,  and  returned  to  Bridgwater, 
lost  in  profoundest  meditation.  I  had  ample  mental  food  on 
which  to  meditate,  seeing  that  I  felt  myself  to  be  seriously  per- 
turbed by  this  new  development.  It  thrust  the  prize  farther 
from  my  grasp  than  ever.  True,  the  girl  had  obviously  refused 
the  count,  yet  I  rightly  felt  this  would  avail  me  little  in  the  end. 
Two  men  had  set  their  minds  upon  this  marriage.  And  one  of 
them  was  the  implacable  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin.  I  felt  that  this 
fact  alone  would  settle  the  question ;  for  even  if  the  girl  proved 
obstinate,  I  had  little  doubt  reverence  for  her  father,  if  nought 
else,  would  prevent  her  flying  in  the  face  of  his  authority.  Even 
if  she  did  prove  intractable,  being  so  lonely,  unprotected,  and 
entirely  at  his  mercy,  she  would  not  stand  the  slightest  chance 
against  him.  He  was  one  who  would  have  his  way  at  any  cost. 
Verily  the  case,  so  far  as  I  was  concerned,  was  hopeless. 
Besides,  when  all  was  said,  Dorothy  had  spurned  me.  Others 
might  dash  in  willy-nilly  and  win  the  prize  or  lose  it ;  but  I  was 
bound,  and  very  rightly,  by  the  bonds  which  some  call  Fate. 
Kinsmen,  you  may  very  properly  inquire  by  what  right  I  had 
indulged  in  this  soliloquy?  By  what  right  had  I  entertained 
these  doubts,  these  fears,  these  impertinent  forebodings  ?  By 
none  at  all.  But,  please  remember,  I  loved  Mistress  Marvin, 
and  love,  as  ye  know,  rarely  jumps  with  common  sense. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE    GATHERING    OF   THE   STORM. 

THE  evening  of  the  following  day,  on  returning  to  the  King's 
Head  to  pass  the  night,  I  was  confronted  by  terrible  news,  and 
by  the  first  of  a  peculiar  sequence  of  life-and-death  adventures. 
Upon  arriving  at  the  tavern,  I  walked  through  the  back  entrance 
into  the  private  parlor.  The  moment  I  was  ensconced  therein, 
Peter  Whipple  came  noiselessly  and  joined  me.  He  put  his 


202  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

fingers  on  his  lips,  whispered  "  Hush  ! ;'  silently  locked  the 
door ;  then  seated  himself  close  beside  me,  and  in  an  under- 
tone conjured — 

"  For  the  love  of  Heaven,  make  no  noise,  Ned  ;  neither  raise 
thy  voice  beyond  a  whisper !  The  common  room  is  full  of 
King's  men  newly  come  from  London." 

"  What  of  that  ?  "  I  asked. 

"By  the  Mass,  you  will  learn  all  too  soon!  'Tis  on. your 
account  alone  they  have  journeyed  hither.  They  bear  a  warrant, 
with  the  King's  signature  displayed  thereon,  for  the  apprehen- 
sion and  proper  conveyance  to  jail  of  a  notorious  malefactor, 
one  Black  Ned,  and  this  same  warrant  is  issued  on  the  recom- 
mendation and  complaint  of  my  lord  Sunderland,  backed  by 
that  of  my  lord  Feversham.  Also  the  document  goes  on  to  say 
that  under  penalty  of  the  King's  weighty  displeasure,  it  behoves 
every  justice  of  the  peace  not  only  in  Somersetshire,  but  through- 
out the  kingdom  to  furnish  men  and  money  for  its  execution, 
should  they  be  called  upon  to  do  so.  Furthermore,  it  gives  on 
another  paper  a  full  and  accurate  description  of  you,  along  with 
a  hundred  pounds  reward  to  any  person  who  shall  deliver  you 
up  to  justice." 

"  Is  that  solemn  truth  ?  'Tis  no  jest,  Pete  ?  "  I  asked  fear- 
fully. 

"  Would  to  God  it  were  !  Every  word  on't  is  gospel,  I  swear. 
Why,  lad,  I  have  e'en  seen  the  sheepskin,  and  a  mighty  precise 
and  circumstantial  bit  o'  scribbling  too." 

I  groaned.     This  was  no  matter  of  pettifogging  sheriff's  men. 

"  No  use  to  sit  sighing  and  groaning,  my  lad,"  Peter  went 
on  sharply.  "  If  ever  ye  had  need  to  show  yourself  a  man  of 
action  'tis  at  this  moment.  I  would  Long  Bob  were  here.  He 
was  the  man  !  though,  by  my  troth,  he  ne'er  had  a  job  so  ticklish 
to  navigate.  'Tis  a  very  bad  business  altogether,  and  it  behoves 
me  to  speak  to  the  purpose.  I  would  not  give  a  week's  purchase 
for  your  life  and  liberty.  On  their  way  up  they  have  spread 
out  their  arrangements  in  Wiltshire,  and  to  venture  that  way 
would  be  madness.  'Tis  plain  you  must  not  bide  under  this 
roof  another  night,  else  they're  bound  to  take  you." 

I  groaned  again,  bereft  of  the  power  of  thinking  to  any 
remunerative  end.  To  add  to  my  sore  predicament,  I  had  poor 
Joe  no  longer  for  my  servant.  Just  then  there  issued  from  an 
adjacent  room  a  chorus  of  carousing  voices.  They  were  trolling 
a  lusty  snatch  of  song,  and  this  rang  throughout  the  hostel. 

"  There  they  are,"  said  Pete  in  a  whisper.  "  Let  'em  sing, 
'twill  keep  'em  from  doing  mischief  at  present.  Besides,  my 


THE  GA  THERING  OF  THE  STORM. 


203 


lad  Tom  knows  how  to  manage  'em.  He's  a  smart  youth,  let 
me  tell  you  ;  the  smartest  in  the  parish.  'Train  up  a  child  in 
the  way  he  shall  go,'  saith  the  Scriptures,  an'  'oons  I've  surely 
followed  'em." 

Neither  of  us  spoke  for  several  minutes,  and  the  silence  was 
only  broken  by  the  hilarity  in  the  common  room.  Master 
Whipple  was  wondrous  serious  that  night ;  far  more  so  than 
ever  I'd  known  him  previously;  but  he  spoke  first,  and  I  could 
have  kissed  him  for  his  words. 

"  Ned,"  he  said,  thrusting  his  hand  out,  "  thy  paw,  lad.  For 
two  years  we  two  have  been  staunch  friends';  and  the  weather 
hath  been  sunshine.  Dost  think  I'm  going  to  desert  thee  now 
the  clouds  are  coming  ?  No  ;  'taint  my  way.  Thy  hand,  lad,  I 
say,  and  by  the  shade  o'  Long  Bob,  I'll  surely  pull  thee 
through." 

"  Thank  you,  Pete,"  said  I.     Here  was  a  true  friend. 

"Now,  my  gossip,"  quoth  Peter  briskly, "  I'll  waste  no  time. 
I've  got  a  few  brains  o'  mine  own,  and  I'm  going  to  use  'em. 
Recollect  I'm  the  skipper  o'  this  craft  at  present.  Now  listen 
to  me.  You  have  no  horse  ? " 

He  scored  this  fact  off  on  one  finger.' 

"  And  no  money,  I  wot  ?  " 

I  nodded  acquiescence,  and  up  went  another  finger. 

"  And  you  are  a  fugitive  with  retreat  cut  off,  and  a  hungry 
pack  of  bandogs  o'  the  law  at  your  heels  ?  Now,  young  un, 
say  not  a  word  till  I  bid  you.  Old  Dame  Nature  has  given 
me  a  head-piece,  and  it  isn't  a  fancy  ornament  neither.  'Twas 
made  to  be  used,  and,  sink  my  soul,  it  shall  be." 

First  he  took  his  black  jack  out  of  the  cupboard,  and  his  church- 
warden off  the  mantelshelf  ;  set  them  in  working  order,  and  bade 
me  get  mine  and  do  the  same.  After  that,  for  half  an  hour  he 
sate  puffing  and  swigging,  puffing  and  swigging,  and  staring  into 
vacancy.  As  for  me,  I  also  sate  staring  into  vacancy,  yet  when 
I  tried  the  Trinidado  it  turned  me  sick,  and  when  I  ventured 
on  the  October  it  choked  me.  At  the  end  of  a  long  half-hour, 
Master  Whipple  emptied  the  contents  of  the  jack,  hung  up  his 
pipe,  and  proceeded  to  make  known  the  result  of  his  delibera- 
tions. 

"  Ned,  'tis  forcible  to  my  mind  that  you  must  leave  this  hostel 
to-night.  I  will  not  answer  for  your  neck,  should  you  bide  here 
another  day.  Now  the  question  is,  whither  shall  you  rlee.  To 
go  eastward  into  Wiltshire  would  be  but  running  into  danger, 
because  their  plans  are  in  apple-pie  order  in  that  direction. 
Also  you  are  much  known  in  the  north  o'  the  county,  and  would 


204  Mf STRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VIN. 

surely  be  taken  ere  you  could  get  any  distance  away.  South- 
ward the  sea  would  soon  cut  you  off,  yet  that  might  avail  you 
better  than  aught  else,  if  we  did  but  know  of  a  craft  to  take  you 
over  the  water.  But,  as  luck  will  have  it,  friend  Billy  Hardisty 
only  sailed  yesterday  to  fetch  a  cargo  of  French  brandy.  Now, 
lad,  you  are  well  acquainted  with  the  Quantocks,  as  I've  oft  heard 
you  say.  Sure  you  can  discover  some  snug  fastness  or  retreat  to 
seek  refuge  in  till  the  pursuit  becomes  less  keen.  That  is  un- 
doubtedly your  best  chance,  and  you  must  trust  to  your  wits 
for  food,  as  there  are  several  homesteads  in  the  neighborhood. 
Yes,  this  is  positively  your  best  outlook.  You  have  no  horse 
to  encumber  you,  and  with  reasonable  precaution,  you  should 
be  able  to  breathe  in  comfort  for  a  long  time  yet.  Also  ye  lack 
money — a  real  misfortune  that.  A  bit  o'  th'  ready  will  over- 
come many  difficulties.  Y'are  a  thriftless  youth,  yet,  sink  me  ! 
so  was  Long  Bob  Bickers.  But  bullion  you  want,  and  I'll  show 
you  how  to  get  it." 

Master  Whipple  was  a  man  of  rare  brain-power  and  invention, 
and  in  sudden  emergencies  of  this  nature  his  mother-wit  bordered 
on  the  marvellous.  At  such  moments  he  seldom  failed  to  show 
his  boundless  superiority  over  his  fellow-creatures.  On  this 
occasion  he  soon  had  an  idea,  and  when  he  did  happen  to  obtain 
one$  as  a  general  rule,  it  proved  a  thing  of  value.  'Twas 
necessary  for  me  to  procure  money,  and  for  a  quarter  of  an 
hour,  mine  host  impressed  most  explicitly  upon  me  the  best 
mode  of  securing  the  same.  Having  made  my  course  ^of  action 
clear,  and  fully  instructed  me  in  the  part  I  was  to  play,  he  un- 
locked the  door  and  went  out  to  assist  his  lad  Tom  in  the  dis- 
pensing of  liquors  to  the  soldiers  in  the  common  room. 

As  soon  as  he  was  gone,  I  muffled  myself  up  thickly  and 
covertly  in  the  folds  of  a  horseman's  cloak.  That  done,  I  took 
from  a  cupboard,  placed  at  my  service  by  the  landlord,  four 
pistols,  all  of  which  I  loaded  and  put  carefully  in  a  handy 
pocket  under  the  folds  of  the  cloak;  pulled  my  hat  low  down 
over  my  eyes,  and  stole  stealthily  out  of  the  parlor  into  the  yard. 
No  sooner  had  I  arrived  there  than  I  suddenly  smartened  my 
carriage ;  briskly  wheeled  about,  and  strode  straight  into  the 
apartment  where  the  King's  men  were  sitting. 

"  Haw,  landlord,"  I  cried,  in  a  loud  overbearing  voice  as 
though  I  were  the  greatest  man  in  the  realm,  "  a  flask  of  claret, 
if  you  please  ;  and  if  you  set  any  of  your  washy  stuff  before  me, 
it  is  at  your  peril." 

"  Quite  so,  my  lord.  Just  so,  my  lord.  I  will  bear  that  in 
mind,  my  lord,"  cried  Pete,  bowing  with  deference  and  solici- 


THE  GATHERING  OF  THE  STORM.  205 

tude.  "  My  lord,"  he  continued,  "  I  will  not  forget  to  set  be- 
fore you  a  vintage  which  you  shall  surely  smack  your  lips  at, 
for  in  good  sooth  your  own  cousin,  His  Grace  of  Grafton,  was 
even  so  kind  as  to  take  more  than  he  could  properly  hold, 
though  maybe  I'm  over  bold  to  say  so." 

"  Tush,  landlord,  I  trust  he  took  no  more  than  decently  befits 
a  gentleman.  If  he  did,  I'll  wager  'tis  prime  stuff,  for  Cousin 
Graffy  hath  the  nicest  tongue  for  a  dram,  and  the  shrewdest 
eye  for  a  woman  in  the  three  kingdoms.  Now  trip  it  featly  wi' 
those  dainty  feet,  sir,  and  oscillate  those  shapely  limbs,  and 
generally  outdo  La  Favorita  at  Old  Drury  in  swiftness  and 
grace  of  motion.  Come,  trip  it,  landlord  ;  come,  trip  it,  sir  \t 
My  gullet  is  as  dry  as  my  old  dad's  coffers." 

This  I  rattled  off  in  the  approved  London  fashion,  chewing 
a  tooth-pick  the  while,  and  infusing  as  much  magniloquent 
vapor  into  my  manner  as  I  could  command. 

Master  Whipple  did  as  he  was  bidden,  yet  not  ere  he  had 
bowed  once  more  to  this  person  of  quality. 

A  dozen  soldiers  in  the  King's  uniform  sat  round  a  table 
near  the  doorway,  with  a  goodly  quantity  of  liquor  and  beer 
ready  for  their  throats,  and  were  occupied  in  either  playing 
cards  or  watching  their  companions  do  so. 

No  sooner  did  I  make  my  appearance  and  begin  to  speak, 
such  was  the  skill  of  my  counterfeiting,  that  one  and  all 
ceased  paying  attenion  to  pot  and  pasteboard,  and  inclined 
their  ears  towards  me.  To  hear  mine  host  belord  me  as  he 
had  done,  together  with  the  assumption  of  my  demeanor, 
straightway  produced  an  extravagant  impression  upon  their 
minds,  which  I  vow  were  none  too  clear.  And  to  crown  all 
this,  'twas  a  comic  sight  to  see  these  worthies  exchange  glances 
when  cunning  Peter  made  mention  of  the  Duke  of  Grafton. 
As  he  went  in  quest  of  the  wine,  he  shot  a  solitary  glance  at 
me,  which,  though  seemingly  insignificant  in  itself,  was  deeply 
charged  with  eloquence.  Hereabouts  I  made  believe  to  see 
the  redcoats  for  the  first  time.  I  singled  out  by  his  dress  a 
little  fellow  (whom  methought  I  had  surely  encountered  on  a 
previous  occasion)  as  the  captain  of  the  company.  First  of 
all  I  eyed  him  in  an  apparently  critical  fashion,  and  then  said, 
still  preserving  my  assurance — 

"  Good  evening,  captain." 

"  Same  to  your  lordship,"  he  replied,  bobbing  stiffly.  As  I 
inspected  his  waspish  red  face,  shrewish  lower  jaw,  puckered 
beady  eyes,  and  round,  fat,  and  stunted  little  body,  my  convic- 
tion grew  firmer  that  I  had  indeed  made  his  acquaintance  under 
14 


206  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

different  circumstances.  And  tacked  close  on  it,  there  came 
into  my  mind  the  recollection  of  some  transaction  with  this 
same  individual  and  the  Mayor  of  Exeter  in  a  business  capacity, 
some  months  previous.  Yet,  seeing  how  little  the  affair  re- 
dounds to  my  credit,  'twill  serve  no  useful  purpose  to  retail  it, 
though  at  that  time  the  captain,  who  bore  the  name  of  Joshua 
Pringle,  was  only  an  apparitor  of  King's  Bench.*  But,  as  I 
subsequently  learned,  this  man,  thanks  to  a  varied  knowledge 
of  the  West  country,  and  force  of  ability,  had  been  chosen  to 
lead  the  expedition  against  Black  Ned. 

"  You  have  some  brawny  ones  here,  captain,"  I  said,  point- 
ing to  a  couple  of  lusty  fellows  at  his  elbow.  "  By  the  Mass, 
I'll  wager  they  could  give  sluewd  knocks  in  His  Majesty's 
service.  But  I've  heard  it  said  brains  and  brawn  ne'er  accord 
with  one  another.  Now  tell  me,  friend,  is  it  not  the  case  that, 
though  you  are  scarce  half  the  size  of  one  of  these  lads,  you 
could,  in  the  matter  of  head-work,  put  them  to  the  blush  ? " 

"  Quite  so,  my  lord." 

"And  methinks  'tis  not  improbable  that  even  in  the  matter 
of  more  manual  exercises,  though  you  do  lack  stature,  you 
would  not  be  altogether  out  of  it.  By  the  look  of  you  I  should 
say  you  could  doubtless  twirl  a  sword  or  handle  a  musket  with 
any  man." 

"Quite  so,  my  lord;  quite  so." 

The  little  officer  was  certainly  overcome  by  this  insinuating 
flattery  ;  which  was  clearly  proved  by  the  expansion  of  his  chest, 
and  the  rapid  exalting  of  his  head.  In  very  truth  at  that  mo- 
ment he  appeared  as  patronizing  and  self-satisfied  as  an  arch- 
bishop. 

"  And  are  all  your  company  as  deft  and  skilful  in  the  han- 
dling of  firearms  as  yourself  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  They  are  a  credit  to  me,  your  lordship.  Of  course  they 
do  not  possess  that  neatness,  that  deftness  of  fingering,  and 
that  general  elegance  of  mode  I  am  proud  to  lay  some  claim 
to.  Tis  the  head,  there,  my  lord,  the  head.  Nature  doth  not 
endow  us  all  alike." 

"Of  course  not,  captain.  I'  faith  all  the  world  knows,  men 
of  brains  blossom  by  themselves,  and  do  not  go  about  in  com- 
panies. There  is  a  great  dearth  of  such,  I  trow.  Yet  do  I 
understand  you  aright  when  I  say  these  men,  every  one  of 
them,  though  lacking  your  daintiness  of  manner,  are  capable  of 
hitting  a  given  target  at  ten  paces  with  some  degree  of  ac- 
curacy ? " 

*   See  Prologue. — Editor. 


THE  GATHERING  OF  THE  STORM.  207 

"  Most  certainly,  my  lord,"  he  replied,  fussy  as  a  cat  that  is 
having  its  back  stroked. 

"  Then,  captain,  luck  hath  certainly  favored  me  in  this 
matter.  I  will  promise  your  men  a  guinea  to  drink  my  health 
with,  if  they  do  but  consent  to  manage  a  small  service  on  my 
behalf." 

"  They  will  be  happy  to  do  that,  sir." 

"  You  must  understand,  captain,  'tis  a  wager  of  a  hundred 
guineas  I  have  laid  with  my  lord  Feversham,  the  commander  of 
the  King's  forces.  He  was  airing  his  opinion  t'other  day  that 
very  few  persons  were  proficient  in  the  exercise  of  firearms,  and 
were  able  to  use  them  with  accuracy.  Yet  I  wagered,  there 
and  then,  thai  I  could  walk  into  any  country  inn  and  choose 
half  a  dozen  fellows  who  would  put  a  bullet  through  a  mug  ten 
paces  distant  at  the  first  time  of  asking.  Ods  fish  !  'twill  be  a 
rare  joke  !  My  lord  will  be  fairly  hoist  with  his  own  petard. 
Here  hath  he  been  having  your  men  trained  in  the  perfect  use 
of  musket  and  pistol,  and  it  to  cost  him  a  hundred  guineas.  See 
the  joke,  captain  ?  Methinks  it  will  be  mightily  relished  in 
Town." 

The  King's  men  grinned. 

At  this  moment  the  landlord  returned  with  the  wine  I  had 
ordered.  I  bade  him  place  it  on  one  side  for  a  while,  and  also 
commanded  him  to  move  the  other  table,  at  which  none  were 
seated,  a  distance  of  ten  paces  away,  and  place  a  mug  thereon. 

With  an  air  of  the  greatest  astonishment  Master  Whipple 
obeyed.  Captain  Pringle  was  the  first  to  essay  the  task.  Easily 
enough  he  shattered  the  mug,  and  certes  the  task  was  ridiculously 
simple.  Another  crock  was  set  up,  and  the  next  man  performed 
the  feat ;  and  thus  they  continued  until  every  man  had  emptied 
his  pistol  in  putting  lead  through  the  earthenware. 

These  fellows  had  had  wine  sufficient  not  to  make  any  awkward 
inquiries,  as  in  sooth  they  might  have  done,  for  to  men  wholly 
sober  it  must  of  necessity  appear  a  strangely  vague  proceeding. 
But  they  had  bibbed  enough  to  want  more,  and  were  all  eager- 
ness to  get  it. 

Mine  host  expeditiously  set  the  room  to  rights  when  the  job 
had  been  properly  performed.  Having  cleared  away  the  mass 
of  broken  crockery,  he  set  the  table  facing  those  of  the  soldiers 
a  convenient  distance  off,  and  laid  my  wine  thereon.  Also  he 
fetched  a  goodly  serving  of  sweet  wine  for  them  at  my  order, 
whereupon  I  was  belorded  by  all  more  freely  than  ever ;  the 
payer  very  fittingly  commanding  respect. 

I  assumed  a  seat  opposite  these  gentlemen,  and  had  a  perfect 


2 o8  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR  VIN. 

view  of  them  as  they  stowed  away  their  drink,  whilst  I  sipped 
mine  in  a  genteel  manner. 

This  may  have  gone  on  ten  minutes  ;  at  any  rate,  long  enough 
for  them  to  recommence  chattering,  playing  cards  and  casting 
dice,  without  further  heed  to  me,  when  Master  Whipple  winked 
at  me,  outwardly  without  aim  or  purpose,  and  in  a  moment  I 
slipped  my  four  pistols  stealthily  on  to  the  table.  Laying  three 
carefully  down  I  took  the  remaining  one  in  my  hand  and  cocked 
it  up  in  the  eyes  of  the  company. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  I,  in  a  voice  so  unlike  my  previous  one, 
that  all  of  them  started  in  astonishment,  "  I  require  your  purses." 

Each  man  in  turn  gave  a  witless  stare,  opened  his  mouth; 
then  closed  it  with  an  exclamation. 

The  captain  was  the  first  to  find  his  tongue. 

"  Good  God  !     Black  Ned  himself." 

"  Ay,  friend,  that's  true,"  I  said  cheerfully.  "  Now,  1  will 
have  things  done  orderly.  That  you  gallant  gentlemen  may 
play  me  no  scurvy  trick,  I  must  beg  the  loan  of  your  weapons 
first,  and  that  of  your  purses  afterwards.  I  beseech  you  un- 
buckle your  swords,  withdraw  your  pistols,  and  present  them  to 
me  at  this  table  one  at  a  time,  not  forgetting  every  stiver  ye 
may  have  about  your  persons.  And,  mark  you  this,  should  I 
see  any  one  of  you  make  a  movement  ere  the  correct  season,  I 
will  most  assuredly  put  a  bullet  into  the  carcase  of  him  who  is 
so  unwise.  D'ye  see,  I've  got  four  loaded  pistols,  whilst  all 
your  own  are  empty,  thanks  to  your  exceeding  kindness.  There- 
fore it  must  be  plain  to  you  all  that  argument  is  useless.  Now, 
Captain  Pringle,  you  being  the  leader  o'  this  enterprise,  and  the 
most  intellectual  man  in  the  room,  I  require  you  first  to  come  for- 
ward and  deliver  up  what  I  have  demanded." 

They  fell  to  swearing  and  shifted  their  eyes  uneasily,  first  to- 
wards me,  than  towards  one  another. 

Unquestionably  their  position  was  thankless.  The  deceit  I 
had  practised  had  left  them  with  unloaded  firearms,  and  ere  they 
could  have  attempted  to  re-load  I  must  have  shot  the  one  who 
dared  to  do  it.  Neither  could  a  sudden  rush  have  been  at- 
tempted, without  loss  of  several  of  their  lives,  and  no  matter  how 
precarious  the  strait  may  be,  life  is  ever  accounted  a  momentous 
thing.  'Twas  apparent  to  the  entire  crew  that  I  was  master  of 
the  situation,  and  no  one  was  more  alive  to  that  unpalatable 
fact  than  diminutive  Captain  Pringle.  I  watched  them  narrowly, 
and  as  I  did  so  beheld  the  captain  fumbling  slyly  and  care- 
fully under  the  table.  In  a  moment  he  whipped  this  hand 
from  underneath,  and  I  saw  the  glint  of  a  pistol-barrel. 


THE  G  A  THE  KING  OF  THE  STORM.  209 

Instantly  there  was  a  flash  and  a  keen  report,  and  the  fellow 
sprang  up  with  a  howl,  as  the  firearm  dropped  on  to  the  floor. 

"  Oh,  my  arm  !  my  arm  ! "  he  screamed ;  and  the  blood 
welled  through  his  jacket. 

"  No  tricks,  captain,"  I  said,  with  a  calculated  smile.  I  had 
been  too  quick  for  him.  1  reloaded  my  pistol  with  a  sinister 
calmness,  which  made  a  visible  impression  on  my  victims. 
Next,  I  produced  my  watch,  and  laid  it  on  the  table,  remarking 
sweetly,  "  Captain  Pringle,  if  you  fail  to  obey  me  in  two  minutes 
by  this  watch,  I  have  a  bit  o'  lead  here  that  shall  find  your  intelli- 
gent head  ;  so  bestir  yourself  for  the  sake  of  your  abnormal 
wits." 

There  and  then  he  came  to  me  at  the  table,  his  bloody  limb 
hanging  limp,  and  his  breath  caught  up  in  sobs  of  pain.  I 
might  have  pitied  him,  could  I  have  forgotten  what  his  mission 
was.  He  reluctantly  unbuckled  his  sword,  laid  down  his  pistol, 
and  handed  over  a  whole  month's  pay,  or  what  remained  of  it, 
which  was  a  good  proportion,  as  it  had  not  long  been  drawn. 
Every  man  Jack  of  them  did  likewise.  Thereupon  I  marched 
them  out  into  the  street,  where  their  horses  were  awaiting  them, 
and  away  they  rode  toTaunton,  being  billeted  at  the  Green  Man 
hostelry  in  that  town. 

"  Ye  shall  pay  for  this,"  muttered  the  bleeding  and  mind-hurt 
Master  Pringle. 

Yet  I  laughed  and  carelessly  snapped  my  fingers.  However, 
I  had  the  good  sense  to  know  that  this  disdain  was  but  the 
idlest  of  boasts.  At  that  moment  my  prospects  looked  blacker 
than  they  had  done  for  many  a  day.  Master  Whipple  and  I,  as 
soon  as  they  were  gone,  counted  up  the  money  (a  comforting 
and  worthy  sum),  and  divided  it  equally  between  us.  This  was 
only  common  fairness,  seeing  this  pretty  trick  we  had  played 
together  had  been  conceived  in  that  gentleman's  head.  We 
buried  the  weapons  in  a  field  at  the  back  of  the  house,  for  their 
loss  would  be  a  sore  inconvenience  to  their  owners  ;  a  pleasur- 
able thought,  when  I  reflected  how  nearly  they  were  my  enemies. 
'Twas  deadly  strife  bewixt  us — strife  which  meant  my  life  and  lib- 
erty. Already  I  had  struck  them  a  very  unkind  blow,  though  one 
that  might  be  mended.  Pete  chuckled  a  hundred  times  that  night, 
and  praised  me  considerably  for  the  skilful  way  I  had  executed 
his  idea.  He  even  went  so  far  as  to  question  whether  the  im- 
mortal Bob  Bickers  could  have  accomplished  it  much  better. 
And  this  was  an  admission  so  singular  in  itself,  that  I  took  op- 
portunity to  record  it  on  the  almanac. 

"There's  one  thing  troubles  me,  Pete,"  I  said;  "do  you  not 


2 1  o  MISTXESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VIN. 

think  these  fellows  will  come  another  day,  and  lay  a  charge 
against  you  of  aiding  and  abetting  me?  " 

"Tush,  lad,"  he  replied,  with  cheerful  whistle,  "hast  never 
heard  of  ways  and  means  ?  I  have  got  a  tongue  in  my  head, 
ain't  II" 

I  was  forced  to  admit  this ;  whereat  he  set  about  whistling 
with  greater  vigor,  and  his  owl-like  countenance  wore  a  look 
that  nature  does  not  give  to  a  common  person. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  FUGITIVE. 

I  CRAMMED  my  pockets  with  food ;  dressed  myself  in  my  stout- 
est suit,  encased  my  legs  in  thick  riding-boots,  and  had  my 
cloak  for  an  outer  covering.  I  next  stuck  a  brace  of  pistols  in 
my  belt,  and  filled  my  pouch  with  ball.  Thus  equipped,  I 
bid  adieu  to  Peter,  and  close  on  midnight  set  out  for  the  hills, 
in  no  very  cheerful  frame  of  mind.  Truly  I  had  good  reason 
to  have  this  weight  upon  my  spirits  ;  as  it  might  be  days,  weeks, 
months,  or  never  that  I  should  see  my  friend  again.  And  if  I 
have  not  already  proved  him  to  be  so  in  your  eyes,  rest  assured 
I  will  ere  long. 

I  started  for  the  hills  a  hunted  man,  which  was  a  thing  cal- 
culated in  itself  to  fill  one  with  a  pessimist's  reflections.  I  slept 
that  night  at  least  securely,  as  there  was  no  likelihood  of  pur- 
suit, in  the  open  among  the  heather  ;  and,  as  the  air  was  warm 
and  dry,  I  did  not  find  my  couch  entirely  void  of  comfort. 

Next  day,  I  roamed  about  to  discover  a  sheltered  hiding-place 
whither  I  might  flee  when  hard  beset,  or  in  which  to  rest  safely 
of  a  night-time.  In  the  glare  of  the  powerful  sun  I  wandered, 
knowing  no  rest  until  such  a  retreat  had  been  obtained.  There 
were  numberless  little  crags  and  hollows  scattered  here  and  there, 
mingled  with  thick  clumps  of  furze  and  a  wilderness  of  herbage. 
The  surface  of  the  Quantocks  is  much  broken  by  little  hills 
and  glens,  or  "goyals  "  as  they  are  called  in  our  parts,  cutting 
it  up  into  meagre  patches,  and  numberless  brown-colored 
streams  flow  down  into  the  valleys,  whilst  all  manner  of  trees 
flourish  close  beside  them.  My  quest  went  unrewarded  during 
the  first  day,  being  unable  .to  find  a  hiding-place  to  suit  me. 
But  I  was  determined  not  to  abate  my  zeal  till  one  had  been 


THE  FUGITIVE.  2 1 1 

procured,  as  then  I  should  be  better  equipped  against  my 
enemies. 

The  Jiext  night  I  slept  in  a  tree.  I  meant  to  throw  no 
chance  away ;  for  life  is  the  most  esteemed  when  it  is  felt  to 
be  precarious.  The  day  following  I  still  pursued  my  object, 
though  after  a  bright  morning  the  sky  grew  clouded,  and  early 
in  the  afternoon  the  rain  came  dripping  down.  Yet  e'en  though 
it  soaked  my  cloak,  I  persisted  in  my  search.  An  hour  before 
nightfall  this  perseverance  was  rewarded.  Maybe,  I  had 
wandered  five  miles  from  Chilverley  village,  when  I  halted 
suddenly,  for  lying  just  below  me  was  a  deep  valley  possibly 
fifty  feet  beneath.  It  was  as  though  a  huge  lump  had  been 
cut  out  of  the  earth,  for  there  stood  a  sheer  precipice  of  rock, 
steep  as  a  house  side,  to  form  the  near  wall  of  the  gully.  I 
was  now  standing  on  the  edge  of  this  barren  length,  and  peer- 
ing into  the  depths  of  the  recess.  As  I  did  so,  I  saw  that  the 
base  of  it  was  split  up  into  little  fissures,  and  methought  it 
likely  if  I  made  my  way  to  the  bottom,  I  might  find  some  nook 
among  these  clefts  that  would  offer  a  place  of  refuge. 

As  I  have  said,  'twould  have  been  impossible  to  have  clam- 
bered down  the  rock,  because  'twas  like  a  huge  house  side,  and 
every  whit  as  precipitous.  Yet  I  did  not  fail  to  perceive  the 
high  ground  on  which  I  stood  sloped  gradually  downwards,  till 
it  came  on  a  level  with  the  "  goyal."  This  deep  glen  was  per- 
haps two  hundred  yards  from  the  wall  of  the  beetling  cliff,  to 
the  narrow  strip  of  bushes  which  formed  the  entrance,  and  the 
outlet  also,  for  it  was  walled  in  by  the  rocks  on  three  sides,  and 
this  short  belt  formed  a  small  opening  on  the  fourth.  It  crossed 
my  rnind  that  herein  was  my  long-sought  goal.  To  gain  proof 
of  this,  I  followed  the  sloping  ground  till  I  had  gotten  on  a 
level  with  the  "goyal,"  and,  by  climbing  over  a  few  scattered 
fragments  of  rock,  and  poking  forward  and  breasting  the  bushes 
made  my  way  into  this  gloomy  enclosed  space.  I  walked 
round  the  foot  of  its  walls,  hoping  to  find  some  sheltered  nook 
at  their  base  ;  for,  to  search  higher  up  was  useless,  as  the  rock 
sides  were  entirely  unbroken  in  their  expanse. 

To  my  joy,  I  presently  discovered  the  object  of  my  search, 
for  exactly  opposite  the  entrance,  at  the  bottom  of  the  hither 
side  (above  which  I  had  stood),  was  a  small  archway  among 
the  fragments  strewn  about  the  floor  of  the  glen,  and  this 
formed  a  little  cave,  which  was  bounded  backwards  by  the 
cliff.  This  insignificant  receptacle  might  hold  a  grown  man 
with  comfort ;  tho',  to  put  another  in  beside  him  would  have 
been  an  impossibility.  'Twas  a  sweetly  sheltered  nook,  and 


2 1 2  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MA R  VI N. 

my  heart  leapt  up  at  sight  of  it.  Here  at  least  I  might  bide 
with  scant  fear  of  discovery,  and  with  a  weather-proof  roof 
above  me,  as  the  rocks  met  together  overhead.  As  I  have  said 
it  was  only  a  very  little  place,  maybe  a  dozen  feet  from  the  cliff 
base  to  the  tiny  entrance,  which  was  so  narrow  that  only  one 
person  could  get  through,  and  then  it  was  a  squeeze.  It  exactly 
faced  the  mouth  of  the  "goyal,"  and  the  mass  of  furze  in  its 
vicinity. 

Forthwith  I  made  this  snug  retreat  my  domicile.  When  the 
darkness  stole  like  a  thief  upon  the  hills  I  drew  my  cloak  about 
me,  stretched  my  limbs  at  full  length  on  the  heathery  floor,  and 
being  much  wearied,  without  a  thought  to  things  past,  present, 
or  to  come,  I  fell  into  a  blissful  sleep,  and  never  dreamed  at  all. 
In  the  morning  when  I  rubbed  my  eyes  the  sun  was  mounting 
in  the  heavens,  and  I  ate  my  last  crumb  of  food.  'Twas  now 
a  matter  of  much  moment  how  to  obtain  a  fresh  supply.  After 
some  hard  thinking  on  the  subject,  I  determined  to  pay  a  visit 
to  Chilverley  as  soon  as  night  fell,  being  well  enough  acquainted 
with  the  hills  to  find  my  way  back  again  in  the  dark.  Through- 
out that  day  I  brooded  plentifully  on  my  own  affairs.  Of  a 
surety  they  had  taken  a  turn  for  the  worse  of  late.  Whilst  I 
lingered  here  in  hiding,  who  might  tell  what  was  being  encom- 
passed at  the  manor  ? 

My  present  position  would  have  been  perfectly  tolerable,  as 
among  these  hills  I  was  riot  by  any  means  affrighted  at  the  law 
hounds,  had  not  gloomy  forebodings  kept  rising  in  my  mind  as 
to  what  might  be  happening  to  Dorothy.  Now  I  am  aware  this 
was  grave  impropriety  on  the  part  of  my  mental  faculties.  Ye 
may  well  ask  why  they  should  be  troubled  about  an  innocent 
maid  who  had  been  my  dupe,  and  who  had  execrated  me  over 
the  threshold  of  her  father's  door.  They  had  no  business 
whatever  to  be  concerned  about  her,  yet  that  ne'er  mattered  a 
farthing  rushlight  to  'em.  The  images  of  a  maiden  with  won- 
drous eyes,  an  old,  gouty,  vile-tempered  warrior  with  a  lacerated 
visage,  and  a  passionate,  handsome  young  French  gallant,  with 
"Ah,  ma  belle  cousine,  je  rons  aime"  for  ever  issuing  from  his 
lips,  jostled  in  my  brain  all  the  livelong  day.  If  I  had  listened 
intent  enough,  I  might  have  heard  the  clanging  peal  of  wedding 
bells ;  yet  I  didn't.  I  only  speculated,  and  amongst  other 
things  upon  my  future  course  of  action.  I  hated  the  old 
knight  and  his  designs;  I  hated  the  Frenchman  more,  and 
would  have  run  him  through  with  an  unrepentant  heart,  and 
all  this  because — because  I  loved  Mistress  Dorothy  Marvin  in 
direct  defiance  to  common  sense  and  reason. 


THE  FUGITIVE.  213 

Yet,  may  I  ask,  what  doth  love  know  of  common  sense  and 
reason  ?  Why  just  as  much  as  a  sucking-calf  does  of  wisdom, 
and  no  more.  Accordingly,  I  hated  Sir  Nicholas  and  the  French- 
man, because  they  sought  to  rob  me  of  my  unwilling  prize. 
Placed  as  I  was,  I  had  no  chance  to  hinder  the  threatened  ca- 
tastrophe, therefore  wicked  restlessness  gnawed  my  heart-strings 
all  that  day  ;  surely  love  is  the  foster-mother  of  hate. 

Directly  nrght  had  fallen,  I  descended  to  the  valley  wherein 
our  homestead  lies.  I  slipped  through  the  village  in  the  shadow 
of  the  hedegrows,  till  I  found  myself  before  the  latch  of  our 
kitchen  door.  With  a  beating  heart  I  pulled  it,  and  walked  in 
amongst  the  occupants. 

John,  now  the  day's  work  was  done,  had  exchanged  his  heavy 
boots  for  slippers,  and,  in  lazy  repose,  was  smoking  in  the  chim- 
ney corner.  Mother  and  Betty  were  busy  concocting  a  simple 
of  herbs,  such  as  was  kept  for  minor  hurts  and  ailments,  and 
for  dispensation  to  the  neighbors. 

One  and  all  of  them  started  back  in  surprise  as  they  beheld 
their  visitor.  Mother  kissed  her  son — 1'  faith,  sons  must  be 
very  far  gone  in  infamy  when  mothers  won't.  Betty  hung  back, 
timid  and  distressed,  whilst  John  scowled,  and  went  on  smok- 
ing. 

"  Mother,"  said  I,  "  I  have  come  for  food.  Victuals  have 
run  short  with  me." 

That  was  sufficient  for  the  moment.  The  two  women,  in  the 
winking  of  an  eye,  had  set  out  a  huge  supper  for  my  delectation. 
Mother  bade  me  eat  and  drink  my  fill  ere  I  exchanged  another 
word  ;  whereat  I  took  a  chair,  and  sate  at  the  head  of  the  table 
close  beside  John's  elbow. 

With  a  darker  scowl  than  ever  my  brother  got  up  in  an  in- 
stant, and  betook  himself  to  the  other  end  of  the  kitchen,  so  as 
to  be  far  removed  from  me.  I  marked  this  keenly,  and  so  did 
mother.  Her  eyes  met  mine,  yet  no  word  passed  between  us. 
It  so  chanced  that  a  cushion  lay  on  John's  new  seat,  and  mother 
bade  him  hand  it  her,  and  upon  his  doing  so,  she  fixed  it  against 
my  back,  saying  the  while  that  I  looked  very  jaded  and  weary. 
In  a  short  time  my  brother  retired  to  bed.  Ere  he  did  so,  he 
kissed  his  mother  and  sister,  and  gave  them  good-night.  I 
proffered  my  hand  to  him,  yet  he  never  heeded  it,  and,  without 
a  word  or  look  for  me,  walked  upstairs.  It  was  not  till  mother 
and  I  were  alone  that  I  overcame  the  silence  I  had  hitherto 
preserved. 

"  Mother,"  I  said,  "  hast  heard  the  latest  news  ?  " 

"  Alas,  my  poor  boy,  I  have.     'Tis  like  a  knife  to  my  heart 


2 1 4  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MAR VIN. 

to  learn  thou'rt  hunted  hourly  like  a  fox.  And  all  last  night, 
after  hearing  what  Tobe  Hancock  told  us,  I  could  not  sleep  for 
trembling  and  for  thoughts  of  thee." 

"  I  have  gathered  no  tidings  for  the  last  three  days,  mother. 
What  is  this  news  ?  Nothing  very  dire,  I  trust  ?  " 

"  Oh,  'tis  terrible,  cruel  news !  The  King  hath  sent  men 
down  from  London  for  thy  capture,  which,  of  course,  thou'rt 
aware  of.  But  worse  than  this,  all  the  gentry  in  the  neighbor- 
hood have  taken  the  matter  up,  and  one  of  them,  by  name  Sir 
Nicholas  Marvin,  hath  offered  one  hundred  pounds  to  those 
who  deliver  your  dead  body  up  to  justice,  or  two  hundred 
should  you  be  captured  alive." 

At  this  I  uttered  an  involuntary  cry.  'Twas  a  blow  to  stag- 
ger a  stronger  man  than  I. 

"  Also,"  she  continued,  "  he  is  lending  his  own  servants  to 
join  in  the  pursuit,  and  is  paying  men  to  assist,  whilst  other 
gentlemen,  who  pronounce  you  a  public  bane,  have  offered  a 
round  sum  between  them,  and  are  furnishing  men  and  money 
with  which  to  hunt  you.  Tobe  says  that  they  have  heard  you 
are  in  hiding  among  the  hills,  and  are  about  to  search  every 
place  of  habitation  among  them.  They  will  look  in  every  glen, 
and  valley,  and  patch  of  brushwood  in  quest  of  you.  They 
mean  to  cover  every  inch  of  ground,  and,  I  hear,  nigh  a  hun- 
dred men  are  afoot  scouring  the  country  side." 

"  'Tis  cruel  news  !  "  I  exclaimed.  In  those  days  I  was  a  bold 
fellow,  and  one  not  easily  abashed,  yet  this  dreadful  informa- 
tion seemed  to  strike  me  down. 

Mother  then  proceeded  to  tell  how  the  lawyers  had  come 
expressly  from  London  for  the  purpose  of  telling  her  that  her 
son's  heirship  had  been  forfeited  to  the  King,  on  account  of 
his  outlawry.  Ultimately  she  stuffed  my  pockets  with  food  of 
all  kinds,  and  promised  to  have  a  basket  of  it  placed  in  a  partic- 
ular spot  amongst  the  boulders  on  the  hill-side  every  morning. 
After  that,  I  left  her  to  weep  and  pray  for  her  eldest  son,  a  thief, 
a  fugitive,  who  was  hunted  by  a  hundred  men,  and  who  had  a 
great  price  upon  his  head. 

He,  bereft  wretch,  went  back  to  his  place  of  succor  in  the 
bosom  of  the  hills.  The  moon  was  up,  and  shed  a  blue  re- 
splendent glory  over  the  dark  masses  of  boulder,  timber, 
stream,  and  brushwood.  My  heart  felt  cold  in  my  breast,  and 
my  teeth  chattered  though  the  night  air  was  warm  and  calm. 
The  demon,  Horror,  seemed  to  clog  my  very  soul  as  I  thought 
of  the  hundred  men  who  were  seeking  me  night  and  day ;  and 
the  reward  for  my  apprehension. 


THE  FUGITIVE.  215 

The  crudest  pang  was  the  knowledge  of  Sir  Nicholas 
Marvin's  rampant  hatred.  'Twas  plain  the  man  had  neither 
forgotten  nor  forgiven.  His  vengeance  was  truly  a  thing  of 
which  to  live  in  terror.  And  would  he  disregard  the  oath  he 
had  sworn  to  me  ?  That  was  a  new  fear,  for  I  ever  sought  to 
keep  the  traditions  of  our  house  unsoiled.  Hitherto,  I  ac- 
counted myself  safe  from  the  law's  clutches,  for,  with  some 
show  of  reason,  methought  that  a  dozen  King's  men  could  ne'er 
be  able  to  root  me  from  my  fastness.  Yet  now  it  was  an 
entirely  different  matter. 

As  I  learned  afterwards,  what  mother  had  told  me  was,  alas, 
too  true.  When  it  became  known  how  anxious  the  King  was 
for  my  arrest,  the  long-flouted  gentry  in  the  vicinity  bethought 
themselves  that  the  occasion  presented  a  fair  opportunity  to 
make  me  pay  for  many  tricks  and  indignities  I  had  inflicted  on 
them  ;  and  also  to  prove  how  much  sympathy  they  had  for  the 
King  in  his  quest,  by  aiding  vigorously  in  the  search.  Cer- 
tainly I  had  become  most  obnoxious  to  the  County,  and  having 
laughed  at  the  power  of  the  Justices  for  so  long  a  time,  one  and 
all  of  them  combined  to  assist  the  King.  Included  amongst 
them  was  the  High  Sheriff,  who  called  out  his  posse  to  join  in 
the  hue  and  cry.  And  so,  between  them,  they  raised  many 
men,  and  offered  a  large  reward  for  the  criminal's  body,  dead  or 
living.  Also,  every  word  was  accurate  concerning  Sir  Nicholas 
Marvin.  In  fact,  he  was  the  most  anxious  and  most  earnestly 
interested  man  in  the  business.  Sooth,  he  was  a  terrible 
enemy.  Sleep  did  not  come  to  me  so  readily  in  my  hiding- 
place  that  night ;  for  many  hours  I  lay  awake  with  a  weary 
restlessness,  and  with  brain  afire,  pondering  bitterly  upon  the 
great  force  of  men  and  money  arrayed  against  me.  Verily,  un- 
less Providence  was  wondrous  kind,  I  could  not  hope  to 
escape. 

About  noon  next  day  I  left  the  remainder  of  the  food  brought 
overnight  in  my  little  abode,  and  went  to  seek  the  promised 
basket.  To  my  exceeding  thankfulness,  it  reposed  at  the  spot 
mother  had  said  it  should.  I  emptied  the  contents  into  my 
pockets,  and,  leaving  the  basket  where  I  had  found  it,  returned 
to  my  sheltering-place,  glad  to  seek  a  covering  from  the  fierce 
rays  of  the  sun.  I  crossed  my  legs  tailor  fashion,  squatted 
down  under  the  kindly  awning,  and  ate  my  dinner. 

I  had  not  been  thus  engaged  very  long,  when,  without  a  warn- 
ing, half  a  dozen  men  sprang  through  the  bushes,  two  hundred 
yards  away,  at  the  mouth  of  the  goyal.  The  distance  that  lay 
between  us  prevented  them  from  espying  me  at  once.  There- 


2 16  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

fore,  I  lay  down  flat  that  I  might  escape  their  observation.  To 
my  horror,  however,  three  went  one  way,  and  three  the  other, 
and  commenced  walking  round  the  base  of  the  rocks,  evidently 
bent  on  neglecting  no  opportunity  in  their  vigilant  search. 
Should  they  chance  to  come  as  far  as  where  I  lay,  I  could  not 
fail  to  be  discovered.  They  neither  swerved  nor  halted,  but 
kept  following  close  by  the  bottom  of  the  steep,  ascents  ;  drew 
nearer  and  nearer,  and  soon  I  knew  my  last  hour  of  liberty 
was  come.  But  despite  my  desperate  position,  methought  life 
still  worth  a  struggle.  The  three  to  my  left  hand  had  ap- 
proached within  ten  yards  of  where  I  was  stretched  full  length, 
when  I  jumped  up,  my  head  coming  within  half  a  foot  of  the 
roof  of  the  cavern.  Plucking  two  pistols  out  of  my  belt,  I 
cried  out  to  them  to  tarry,  holding  a  weapon  in  each  hand  that 
the  entire  company  might  have  a  sight  of  them.  They  did 
stop  short,  indeed,  gravely  startled  by  this  apparition  ;  but  in  a 
moment  Captain  Pringle,  who  formed  one  of  the  number,  gave 
vent  to  a  cry  of  delight,  and  waved  his  uninjured  arm  in 
rapture. 

"  Found  !  "  he  exclaimed  with  malicious  joy,  and  straight- 
way began  to  dance. 

They  stood  watching  me  with  an  apprehensive  eye  for  the 
pistols. 

"  Approach  not  a  step  nearer,  or  I  put  a  bullet  through  the 
foremost  man,"  I  shouted. 

"  Who  will  draw  the  badger?"  asked  the  captain,  his  joy 
cut  short  at  this  defiance. 

None  of  them  seemed  willing  to  undertake  this  ticklish  task, 
least  of  all  Master  Pringle  himself.  They  stood  and  took 
counsel  one  with  another  as  to  the  best  means  of  laying  hands 
upon  me. 

"  Shoot  him,"  said  one. 

"  Ay,  ay,"  assented  two  or  three. 

"  Nay,  my  lads,"  quoth  the  captain,  "  that  will  not  do  ;  'twill 
l)e  a  clear  hundred  out  of  our  pockets.  Did  not  Sir  Nicholas 
Marvin  offer  us  one  hundred  pounds  if  we  took  him  dead,  and 
two  hundred  should  we  take  him  alive,  so  that  he  might  be 
placed  in  the  felon's  box,  and  die  a  felon's  death  ?  No, 
methinks  it  will  ne'er  do  to  shoot  him  ;  best  take  him  alive." 

"  But  how  ?  "  they  asked. 

The  little  captain  knitted  his  brows  and  stared  at  me  in  deep- 
est thought. 

For  my  part,  to  stand  there  watching  them  decide  my  fate 
was  the  reverse  of  cheerful.  Still,  I  had  already  made  up  my 


THE  FUGITIVE.  217 

mind  that,  should  they  advance  to  take  me,  I  would  shoot  down 
as  many  as  I  could.  I  was  a  desperate  man  brought  to  bay. 

At  length  Master  Pringle  spoke,  and  he  sent  a  chill  through 
all  my  bones  as  the  words  issued  from  his  lips. 

"  Tell  you  what,  my  lads,"  he  grinned,  "  we  will  earn  every 
groat  of  our  guerdon.  We  will  ne'er  leave  this  place  till  he 
surrenders.  We'll  pitch  a  little  tent  across  the  opening  against 
yonder  bushes,  then  he  can't  escape  ;  and  so  will  starve  him  out! 
One  of  you  shall  mount  guard  close  by  him  in  the  night,  and 
the  moment  he  falls  asleep  he  is  ours.  If  three  days  doesn't 
settle  him,  I'll  pay  for  a  gallon  o'  sack." 

"  Bravo,  captain  !  " 

"  It's  the  head  there,  d'ye  see  ?  You  fellows  would  ne'er 
have  thought  o'  that  in  a  month.  But,  by  my  troth,  'twill  be  a 
sweet  revenge.  Master  Black  Ned,  what  say  you  ?  A  sweet  re- 
venge, you'll  admit.  I  promised  I  would  pay  thee  for  that  small 
affair  the  other  night,  and,  so  help  me  God  !  I  will.  I'm  re- 
puted smart  at  repaying  those  kind  of  debts ;  thou  dost  not. 
play  Joshua  Pringle  many  such  pranks.  Good  friend,  how 
happy  you  will  be  to  lie  there  foodless  and  sleepless.  My  eye, 
friend,  you  will  enjoy  yourself !  And  then  there'll  be  a  lovely 
rope  waiting  to  stretch  that  neck  o'  thine,  and  a  beautiful  gib- 
bet for  thy  bones  to  rot  in.  And  remember,  we  shall  receive 
three  hundred  pounds  for  this  little  business — two  hundred 
from  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin,  the  best-hearted  man  in  the  county, 
and  another  hundred  tacked  on  by  the  neighboring  gentry.  'Pon 
honor,  friend,  we  will  drink  thy  health  wi'  it  blithely,  and  wish 
thee  a  pleasant  journey  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow." 

The  man's  maleficence  was  disgusting  as  he  danced  before 
me,  in  heathenish  glee.  To  cut  short  his  foul  exultation,  I 
shouted — 

"  Hold,  you  little  hound  of  hell,  or  I  put  a  bullet  through 
you  !  " 

I  raised  my  pistol  to  get  a  sight  of  him  as  I  spoke,  and  three 
parts  made  up  my  mind  to  shoot  him  dead.  Mayhap  in  the 
end  'twould  have  saved  me  much  anxiety  had  I  done  so,  yet  I 
can  never  be  too  thankful  I  had  not  his  blood  upon  my  soul. 
'Tis  vile  enough  to  be  a  thief,  yet  how  much  worse  to  be  a  mur- 
derer 1  My  attitude  silenced  the  creature,  but  forthwith  they 
proceeded  to  take  measures  to  starve  me  into  surrender.  They 
could  with  ease  have  shot  me,  but  the  thoughts  of  that  other 
hundred  pounds  made  them  anxious  to  take  me  alive  if  possible. 
This  was  a  further  proof  of  the  thirst  for  vengeance  that  pos- 
sessed the  knight.  He  was  not  satisfied  that  I  should  lose  my 


2 18  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

life,  but  I  must  lose  it  in  the  direst  shame  and  ignominy,  at  the 
hands  of  the  common  hangman. 

One  of  the  King's  men  was  ordered  to  fetch  a  tent,  and  to 
call  his  remaining  comrades  hither,  whilst  the  rest  stayed  to 
maintain  a  watchful  guard  upon  me.  Ere  nightfall  ?  spacious 
canvas  covering  had  been  erected  at  the  mouth  of  the  "goyal," 
wherein  the  whole  crew  lay  drinking,  playing,  and  waiting. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE  STRANGE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  "  GOYAL." 

To  lie  cooped  up  in  that  rocky  crevice,  and  to  know  that 
when  I  came  forth  out  of  it  into  the  world  of  men  I  must  do  so 
to  a  shameful  death,  was  a  revolting  reflection.  Escape  was 
impossible  ;  my  captors  were  in  possession  of  the  only  exit. 
Even  had  I  a  rope,  it  would  have  availed  nothing,  as  there  was 
no  means  of  securing  it  at  the  top  of  the  rocks,  whilst  to  climb 
up  without  such  aid  was  quite  beyond  the  range  of  possibility, 
since  on  the  unbroken  expanse  of  cliff  there  was  nought  to 
offer  any  foothold.  The  soldiers  knew  this,  and  therefore  the 
whole  crew  made  high  holiday  as  they  awaited  my  surrender. 
Not  that  this  joviality  offered  the  slightest  hope  of  amendment 
in  my  fortunes.  They  were  far  too  alert  for  me  to  steal  a 
march  upon  them.  Faith  !  three  hundred  pounds  had  made 
them  zealous  servants  of  the  King.  They  troubled  their  heads 
little  about  their  prisoner,  knowing  thoroughly  well  that  flesh 
and  blood  is  no  match  for  hunger,  thirst,  and  lack  of  sleep. 

Twice  during  my  first  night's  vigil  I  saw  a  man's  blurred 
shadow  issue  from  the  darkness.  Evidently  a  soldier  was  listen- 
ing for  any  sonorous  sounds,  so  that  he  might  seize  me.  How- 
ever, I  drove  him  away  with  threats  on  each  occasion.  This 
served  to  prove  that  I  should  be  their  prey  the  moment  I 
yielded  to  the  wiles  of  slumber.  Herein  lay  my  chief  concern  ; 
in  the  matter  of  food,  I  might  have  defied  them  for  a  week,  be- 
cause I  was  sufficiently  supplied  ;  yet  the  mere  thought  of  going 
without  sleep  for  such  a  period  was  torture.  Truly  I  must 
soon  give  in  ;  but,  in  despite  of  that,  with  a  vain,  pig-headed 
pertinacity,  I  was  determined  to  hold  out  as  long  as  I  was 
able. 

The  King's  men  had  brave  times  ;  'twas  pleasant  enough  for 
them.  They  basked  in  the  sun,  or  slept  through  the  daytime, 


THE  STRANGE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  "  GOYAL."      219 

gambled  and  caroused  all  night,  and  made  the  silent  hills  re- 
echo with  their  songs,  their  oaths,  and  their  Bacchanalian 
laughter.  As  for  me,  I  declare  that  I  had  a  very  sober  time 
indeed,  and  an  intensely  bitter  one.  Conscience  is  a  coward  ; 
'twill  not  attack  a  man  when  he  is  hale  and  free  in  limb  and 
mind,  as  at  such  a  time  it  is  likely  to  be  worsted.  No,  that  is 
not  at  all  its  method.  Watchfully,  stealthily,  'twill  wait  till  its 
opponent  lies  weak  and  spent ;  then  like  a  demon  it  comes 
from  a  cobwebbed-corner  in  the  brain,  and  sallies  forth  to  tan- 
talize its  victim.  And,  oh  !  the  promises  for  future  amendment 
it  will  extort  at  such  triumphant  times,  for,  like  all  cowards,  it 
rides  with  a  high  hand  in  the  hour  of  victory.  Nevertheless 
these  fair  promises  are  forgotten  when  the  penitent  regains  his 
rude,  corporeal  vigor. 

Were  I  only  to  set  down  here  a  tenth  part  of  what  transpired 
in  my  mind  during  these  moments  of  repentance,  straightway  ye 
would  call  me  names,  and  account  me  the  sorriest  of  story- 
tellers. There  is  but  one  of  these  things  I  will  mention, 
and  that  shall  be  the  bitterest.  I  had  been  the  dupe  of  love. 
Whether  this  contingency  arose  through  the  machinations  of 
God  or  the  devil  'twas  more  than  I  was  capable  of  fathoming  ; 
yet  I  never  doubted  its  unpalatable  truth.  Here  had  I  wasted 
months  of  time  and  energy  on  a  hopeless  thing,  and  was  con- 
demned to  die  spurned  and  cursed  by  the  one  for  whom  I  might 
have  sold  my  so'ul.  Furthermore,  but  for  this  love  which  had 
so  befooled  me,  I  should  have  carried  out  Tobe  Hancock's 
wishes,  and  have  quitted  the  country.  Oh,  blind,  blind  fool ! 
thrice-duped  idiot !  to  clutch  after  a  Will  o'  the  Wisp  till  it  leads 
you  into  a  bog,  only  for  it  to  dance  away  as  you  feel  the  black 
slough  closing  above  your  head,  and  as  life  is  ebbing  from  you  ! 
Oh,  blind,  insensate  fool !  Yet,  stay,  why  this  to  do  ?  Every 
fool  doth  advertise  his  name  when  he  is  called  upon  to  pay  for 
all  his  folly  ;  I  suppose  'tis  then  for  the  first  time  that  he  re- 
alizes that  "  fool  "  should  have  been  his  natal  title.  This  was 
the  wearing  of  the  mind  and  of  the  body,  methinks  something 
of  the  bitterness  of  death  cankered  it. 

My  plight  was  pitiable ;  being  compelled  to  lie  hours  in  a 
narrow  place,  with  limbs  cramped,  tongue  parched,  and  eyes 
destitute  of  sleep.  Times  without  number  I  made  up  my  mind 
to  leave  this  pestilential  shelter  and  give  myself  up  to  the  sol- 
diers of  the  King.  Aught  was  better  than  this  cruel  state. 
Yet  no  sooner  did  I  get  my  limbs  a  trifle  stretched  by  standing 
up  prior  to  going  out,  than  once  more  my  heart  failed,  and  I 
returned  to  voluntary  captivity.  Thus  must  I  linger  till  the 


220  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

time  when  nature  would  have  her  way,  then  perforce  I  should 
pass  into  the  hands  of  justice. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day  I  had  lain  without  sleep,  a 
new  idea  came  into  my  head — and  a  welcome  one.  A  bullet 
through  the  brain  methought  would  settle  all  things  sublunary. 
Thereupon  I  hugged  the  weapon  to  my  breast,  and  blessed  it 
by  the  kindly  name — Deliverer.  By  its  aid  I  might  escape  the 
gallows,  and  the  gaping  grinning  crowd  ;  and  thus  balk  the 
knight,  and  so  be  saved  ignominy.  Verily  this  idea  in  itself 
was  heartsome.  I  set  about  reckoning  the  time  I  had  left  to 
live.  One  more  night,  and  this  same  day,  methought  I  could 
keep  awake — perhaps  twenty  hours  in  all.  Twenty  hours  to 
make  my  peace  with  God !  At  once  I  knew  I  could  not  do  it 
in  the  time.  Most  folk  do  not  trouble  about  the  hereafter  till 
they  meet  it  face  to  face  ;  and  tho'  I  was  one  of  that  procras- 
tinating tribe,  and  had  to  die  a  thief,  and  by  my  own  hand,  try 
as  I  might  I  could  not  think  of  hell  and  heaven.  God  knows 
I  sought  to  do;  still  it  was  in  vain  ;  I  even  had  no  words  to 
form  a  prayer  with. 

I  lay  all  through  the  day  tossing  on  the  bed  of  heather,  lost 
in  a  kind  of  stupor,  thinking  of  nothing  at  all,  with  my  eyes 
fixed  on  the  stern  impassive  rocks.  The  sun  dipped  gradu- 
ally in  its  grandeur,  till  the  purple  flecked  the  sky;  'twas  the 
last  sunset.  I  did  not  cry  nor  moan  by  this,  nor  roll  and  toss 
about,  having  done  with  such  emotions.  I  only  lay  with  lips 
cracked  with  thirst,  heavy  eyes,  and  the  pistol  soothing  my  hot 
cheek  with  the  stolid  coldness  of  its  iron. 

As  the  evening  came  the  sky  clouded  over,  and  a  breeze 
sprang  up  from  the  southwest.  Once  or  twice  I  saw  the 
prowling  shadows  of  the  watchful  soldiery  close  at  hand ;  but 
had  the  strength  to  cry  out,  and  threaten  them  with  my  pistols, 
whereupon  they  retired  to  their  game.  The  rain  began  to 
patter  down,  and  this  gave  me  a  little  vigor  as  I  sucked  the 
raindrops,  whilst  they  bathed  my  brow.  Being  thus  revived  I 
felt  more  energy  for  a  while,  and  commenced  to  think  again, 
not  of  eternity,  but  of  my  ride  one  morning  in  the  spring,  when 
I  sought  to  break  my  neck.  Also  of  another  ride  a  month 
agone  in  the  furious  storm,  when  I  rode  my  brave  horse  till  he 
died.  There  I  had  the  beginning  and  the  ending.  Perchance, 
after  all,  death  did  not  seem  so  grim  and  terrible. 

I  and  my  kind  companion,  the  pistol,  lay  there  that  last  night 
side  by  side.  It,  cold,  callous,  without  feelings,  without  emo- 
tions, yet  with  the  gentlest  pity ;  I,  calm,  with  neither  joy  nor 
cure  ;  waiting  for  my  merciful  servant  to  perform  its  office. 


THE  STRANGE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  «  GOYAL."      221 

Soon  Ned  Armstrong,  thief,  with  Death  at  his  elbow,  fell  into 
a  kind  of  half-unconsciousness.  Once  I  gave  a  horrible  start 
and  shivered.  'Twas  the  face  of  Judge  Jeffreys  peering  through 
the  gloom.  I  saw  his  eyes,  his  glaring  wolf-like  countenance, 
his  huge  periwig,  the  white  powder  snowing  out  of  it ;  and  his 
square  murderous  jowl.  I  saw  myself  down  on  my  knees  be- 
fore my  father's  gibbet  tree ;  heard  it  creak  in  the  wind,  and 
heard  the  scream  of  the  carrion  bird,  as  it  flew  into  the  boding 
night.  The  raindrops  mingled  lovingly  with  the  wind  soughing 
in  the  valley,  and  murmured  sweet  harmonious  music ;  a  gentle 
soothing  rhapsody ;  a  surcease  from  sorrow  ;  from  hate  and 
love. 

Mine  eyes  kept  closing  as  though  pulled  together  by  an  un- 
seen hand.  There  was  no  light  in  the  sky,  no  object  visible 
through  the  darkness ;  all  things  around  were  tragically  silent, 
and  the  night  fell  like  a  terrifying  pall  of  black.  'Twas  a  fitting- 
night  to  die  in.  Suddenly  I  raised  my  arms  and  shivered ;  I 
could  not  keep  my  eyes  open.  The  time  had  now  arrived  when 
the  friendly  pistol  was  to  prove  its  worth.  I  stretched  my  hand 
out  and  got  the  iron  thing  within  my  grasp,  stroked  the  loaded 
barrel ;  and  my  fingers  touched  the  easy  trigger.  Here  I 
closed  my  eyes,  slowly  raised  the  barrel  to  my  forehead  ;  but 
during  the  performance  of  this  reluctant  act  I  thought  of  her 
who  had  saved  me  from  myself  ;  who  had  lifted  me  out  of  utter 
depths  of  infamy.  I  thought  of  her  who  had  inspired  me  to  hate 
my  fallen  state,  who  had  made  me  feel  the  happiness  of  living; 
of  her  who  had  made  me  more  fit  to  behold  my  Maker.  Then 
I  felt  the  cruel  stroke,  and  thought  'twas  good  to  die ;  but 
directly  saw  her  bleeding  arm,  and  changed  my  mind.  After 
that  I  grew  maudlin,  like  the  heroes  in  the  fourth-rate  tragedies 
of  the  playhouse.  Would  she  be  glad  to  know  that  I  was 
dead  ?  or  would  she  weep  ?  Would  she  hate  me  still  ?  or 
would  she  hate  herself?  Or  would ? 

Here  the  wily  demon  sleep  took  hold  of  me,  and  for  a  time  I 
had  no  care  for  earth,  or  hell  or  heaven.  I  became  conscious 
again  with  a  violent  start.  There  was  a  hand  on  my  sleeve. 
Oh  joy  !  the  pistol  still  nestled  in  my  fingers. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  " 

"  Hush,  Ned,"  said  a  soft  voice. 

Hereupon  methought  my  reason  had  surely  gone.  A  hand 
was  laid  on  the  back  of  mine,  and  another  "  hush  "  was  breathed 
within  my  ears. 

"  Dorothy,  is  it  thee  ?  or  am  I  mad,  or  am  I  dreaming?" 

"  Poor  lad  !     Here,  drink  this  !  " 


222.  MfSTKESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VIN. 

Without  any  manner  of  doubt  it  was  Mistress  Dorothy  Marvin 
down  here  in  the  "  goyal,"  and  on  her  knees  at  my  side.  To 
prove  it  was  no  phantasy  of  madness,  I  felt  a  phial  as  plain  as 
ever  mortal  did,  and  also  raised  it  to  my  lips,  and  gulped  the 
spirit  down. 

"  Whither  hast  thou  come  ?  "  I  asked  in  a  sort  of  hopeful 
fear. 

"  I  have  come  to  save  thee,  Ned.  For  the  love  of  Heaven, 
make  no  noise." 

I  was  fully  awake  by  this,  tho'  if  ever  a  man  was  wideawake 
when  he  thought  he  wasn't,  then  without  doubt  that  man  was 
Edward  Armstrong. 

"  Have  you  the  strength  to  follow  me  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  That  I  have,"  said  I,  in  a  sudden  thrill  of  vigor.  "  I  will 
follow  thee  anywhere  away  from  this  accursed  hole." 

"Well,  then,  if  thou  hast  the  strength,  and  art  noiseless  and 
very  speedy,  thou  art  worth  a  many  dead  men  yet." 

"  But  how,  mistress  ?  "  I  whispered  in  amaze. 

"A  rope  dangles  from  the  cliff.  If  you  climb  that  you  are 
safe.  Come,  take  another  draught,  and  follow  at  my  heels,  and 
speak  no  word." 

Carefully  I  took  the  charge  out  of  the  loaded  pistol — my 
true  friend — and  stuck  the  weapon  under  my  cloak.  Then, 
afire  with  eagerness,  I  followed  this  good  angel  of  deliverance. 
She  led  me  to  the  wall  of  the  rock,  and  slowly  and  cautiously 
made  her  way,  feeling  for  the  rope  at  every  yard.  'Twas  so 
dark  that,  though  I  was  hard  by  her  elbow  all  the  while,  her 
form  was  but  a  shadow.  Suddenly  she  stopped  and  said 
"  Hush  !  "  into  my  ear  again. 

"  The  sentinel  is  lying  here.  Stride  over  him,"  she  whis- 
pered. 

I  felt  a  strange  sensation,  yet  just  then,  my  guide  took  a  wide 
step,  and  I  beheld  a  dark  mass  lying  at  my  feet.  I  did  as  I 
was  bidden,  so  strode  clear  of  it ;  and  followed  in  the  wake  of 
my  deliverer.  Soon  I  found  her  standing  still,  a  few  yards  dis- 
tant ;  she  had  discovered  the  end  of  the  rope.  As  I  came  up 
she  gave  the  hempen  strands  into  my  hand. 

''  Up  you  get,  sir  !  "  she  said  shortly. 

"  What,  and  leave  you  till  the  last  ?  Nay,  nay,  mistress,  that 
cannot  be.  After  you." 

"  Don't  be  a  fool !  " 

Her  tone  was  very  low,  but  particularly  fierce,  and  admitted 
of  no  controversy.  It  had  more  resolution  and  courage  in  it, 
than  ever  I've  heard  from  the  mouth  of  woman. 


THE  STRANGE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  "  GOYAL." 


223 


"  Now,  look  alive,  Ned,  and  get  to  the  top.  'Twill  be  easy 
climbing,  for  there  is  a  big  knot  for  every  four  feet  of  rope." 

'Twas  as  she  had  said,  therefore  the  ascent  was  easy  of 
accomplishment.  In  no  time  my  feet  touched  the  firm  ground 
above,  and  a  moment  later,  swifter  than  ever,  Dorothy  came 
up  hand  over  hand  and  stood  beside  me. 

"  Quick,  and  help  me  unfasten  this  rope,"  she  commanded. 

Verily,  she  was  like  three  men  rolled  into  one  just  then ;  she 
had  thought  for  everything.  Her  voice  was  a  leader's  voice, 
although  so  hushed,  and  her  courage  was  truly  marvellous. 
'Twas  a  pity  she  was  not  a  man,  else  she  must  have  been  a 
great  one.  The  rope  had  been  secured  to  a  strong  stake 
planted  firmly  in  the  ground  ;  but  in  a  minute  it  was  untied, 
whereupon  we  drew  the  whole  length  out  of  the  jaws  of  the 
goyal,  and  left  it  in  a  coil  on  the  top  of  the  precipice. 

"  There  !  "  she  exclaimed  breathlessly,  "  we  may  tarry  now. 
The  King's  men  will  have  to  walk  round  for  a  good  half-mile 
to  get  on  our  track.  Thou  art  saved,  Ned." 

'Twas  too  dark  for  us  to  make  our  way  with  certainty,  as 
such  was  the  blackness  of  the  night,  that  we  had  to  plant  one 
foot  carefully  before  the  other,  lest  we  tripped  over  some  bush 
or  boulder  in  our  path. 

"  Best  take  our  time,"  she  remarked,  still  keeping  sole  com- 
mand ;  "  they  have  not  yet  discovered  that  the  bird  hath  flown, 
and  when  they  do,  they  will  ne'er  be  able  to  follow  in  the 
dark." 

"  Mistress,"  said  I,  unconsciously  leaning  on  this  splendid 
creature,  as  the  weak  ever  do  on  the  strong,  "  whither  must  I 
flee  ?  I  know  of  no  place  of  refuge.  They  will  surely  retake 
me  ere  long." 

"  Pish  !  "  she  cried  contemptuously;  "you  talk  like  a  man, 
and  with  only  a  man's  wit.  'Tis  lucky  for  you,  sir,  that  I'm  a 
woman,  and  with  a  woman's  ingenuity,"  and  she  gave  a  little 
inward  trill — even  at  so  supreme  a  moment  it  seemed  she  had 
not  forgotten  the  usages  of  laughter.  "  Now,"  she  added,  "  I'll 
wager  they  never  find  thee.  I  have  gotten  the  very  best 
hiding-place  for  thee  in  the  kingdom." 

My  heart  leaped  into  my  mouth  at  these  noble  words,  for 
noble  they  truly  were.  A  sense  of  awe  of  this  girl  was  growing 
upon  me.  Could  this  be  the  light-hearted,  laughing  madcap  ? 
the  slenderly  wrought  Mistress  Marvin,  with  the  maid's  phy- 
sique ?  'Twas  her  voice  that  whispered  thro'  the  gloom ;  but 
the  spirit  that  burned,  and  glowed,  and  throbbed  behind  it 
would  have  honored  indomitable  Ulysses. 


224  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MAKV1X. 

"  We  had  best  make  slowly  for  the  east,  Ned,  then  we  shall 
be  following  our  course.  'Tis  a  rare  piece  of  luck  not  having 
to  cross  their  path  to  reach  our  place  of  succor." 

After  she  had  spoken  thus  we  walked  on  in  silence,  side  by 
side,  yet  very  carefully.  'Twas  still  raining,  and  to  prove  this 
was  no  dream,  several  of  the  drops  (with  malice  aforethought) 
found  their  way  down  my  back  and  made  me  shiver.  And  so  real 
was  that  shiver  that  I'll  swear  mortal  ne'er  had  one  so  natural 
in  sleep.  We  went  forward  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  in  silence. 
She  did  not  say  a  word,  whilst  I  felt  strangely  overcome  by  the 
sense  of  the  noble  thing  she  had  done  for  me,  of  all  men  in  the 
world,  and  also  by  the  way  in  which  she  had  done  it.  Truly 
she  was  her  father's  daughter.  That  night's  splendid  work 
proved  to  me  at  least,  despite  her  feminine  exterior,  that  she 
had  more  of  the  lion  in  her  than  the  lamb.  Yet  stay,  I  run  too 
fast. 

We  went  on  saying  nothing  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour ;  but  at 
the  end  of  that  time  the  voice  of  Mistress  Dorothy  Marvin  of 
Kelston  Manor  (not  her  of  the  hills)  quavered — 

"  Keep  close  by  me,  Ned.     I  feel  unwell." 

A  moment  later  she  cried  out,  gasping — 

"  Oh,  Ned,  I  feel  so  strange.  My  knees  are  knocking.  I 
believe  I  am  about  to  fall.  I — I — oh  dear  !  " 

I  caught  sight  of  her  swaying  in  the  darkness,  so  instantly 
put  my  arms  around  her,  and  supported  her.  She  lay  like 
lead  in  them.  Tenderly  I  placed  her  on  a  hillock,  and  searched 
about  her  person  for  the  spirits,  and  in  doing  so  made  another 
discovery,  to  wit,  that  she  wore  the  garb  she  had  done  at  Bru- 
ton.  By  force  of  patience  I  found  the  phial,  and  ere  long 
brought  her  back  to  sensibility.  Having  quite  recovered,  we 
sat  down  together,  side  by  side,  on  the  wet  hills,  and  waited 
for  the  first  fleck  of  dawn  that  we  might  pursue  the  way. 

"  Ned,"  quoth  Mistress  Marvin  of  the  manor,  "  I  prithee  do 
not  laugh  at  me,  but  I  feel  a  dreadful  baby.  Fancy  to  act 
like  that.  Why  I  simply  might  have  beaten  all  the  King's  men 
myself,  I  felt  so  full  of  pluck,  and  then  to  make  myself  a  fool 
now  all  is  over.  My  word  !  old  daddy  would  ne'er  forget  it 
did  he  but  know  I  so  demeaned  myself ;  tho'  I  promise  thee, 
Ned,  he  shall  not  know  a  word  of  this  night's  doings  from  any 
lips  of  mine.'' 

"  Mistress  Dorothy,"  I  said,  though  I  know  not  whence  came 
the  strength  or  the  courage  to  speak,  "  I  am  unworthy  to  talk 
to  you." 

"  Oh,  I'm  a  goddess,  am  I  ?  " 


THE  STRANGE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  "  GOYAL."      225 

"  I  have  deceived  you  and  the  knight,  your  father,"  I  con- 
tinued lamely,  "  and  yet  you  have  risked  your  own  life  twice 
to  save  my  worthless  one.  I  cannot  thank  you  ;  I  know  not 
how." 

"  Did  I  ask  you  to  ? "  she  asked  pertinently ;  and  then 
enunciated  "  bah  !  "  so  bewitchingly  that  I  felt  a  great  regret — 
and  that  was  because  I  could  not  see  the  expression  on  her 
face.  "  But  I  am  sure,"  she  said,  "  you  are  desperately  curious 
to  learn  what  hath  brought  this  night's  doings  about;  so,  to 
while  away  the  time,  I'll  tell  you." 

"  Mistress,  methinks  I  am  in  a  dream.  I  cannot  grasp  what 
hath  just  occurred.  'Twill  be  but  another  debt  I  owe  should 
you  make  matters  more  clear  to  me." 

"  Look  here,  Ned  Armstrong,  if  I  hear  another  word  about 
your  debts,  you  shan't  have  a  single  word  from  me.  However," 
she  said,  beginning  the  narrative,  "you  are  quite  aware  of  the 
awful  animosity  papa  bears  against  you.  1  love  him  dearly, 
ay,  more  than  I  can  really  tell ;  yet  I  dread  his  hatred.  When 
he  doth  get  a  notion  into  his  head  that  he  hath  been  wronged, 
then  no  earthly  power  will  prevent  him  seeking  vengeance. 
And  his  vengeance  is  terrible  ;  he  frightens  me  when  he  gets 
like  he  did  on  the  night  of  your  confession,  and  ever  since  he 
hath  sworn  your  death.  He  declared  to  me,  morning,  noon, 
and  night,  he  would  ne'er  rest  till  you  had  died  on  the  gallows. 
This  he  swore  that  night,  and  swears  the  same  to  this  hour; 
thus  no  sooner  did  the  King's  men  arrive  with  the  warrant  for 
your  apprehension,  than  he  jumped  about  like  a  youngster  who 
hath  ne'er  known  the  gout.  Many  a  time  had  he  cursed  his 
own  soft-heartedness  (as  he  called  it),  in  not  killing  you  when 
he  had  the  chance,  and  when  these  fellows  from  London  came, 
he  straightway  sent  for  them,  and  offered  the  terms  all  the 
county  wots  of.  He  hath  lent  three  of  our  serving-men  to  go' 
help  and  seek  you,  and,  in  fact,  when  his  foot  hath  been  well 
enough,  he  has  e'en  gone  abroad  himself  for  that  same  pur- 
pose. Since  their  coming  he  hath  had  nought  but  you  in  his 
head,  and  I  tell  you,  Ned,  I  have  spent  more  than  one  night 
sleepless,  thinking  of  his  dreadful  threats. 

"Well,  the  most  terrible  thing  happened  this  morning.  That 
wretched  Captain  Pringle  came  in  high  glee,  and  gave  father  a 
full  account  of  how  they  had  got  you  like  a  'badger  in  a  hole.' 
He  told  him  how  they  were  bound  to  starve  you  out  ere  long, 
and  the  two  of  them  seemed  so  delighted  over  it,  that  I  could 
not  bear  to  be  in  the  room  and  hear  them.  It  made  me  des- 
perate to  think  of  you  lying  pent  up  there  in  that  horrible  hole, 


226  MISTRESS  DOROTf/Y  MARVIN. 

and  to  know  that  you  would  ne'er  come  out  of  it  only  to  death. 
And  I  thought,  Ned,  what  a  brute  1  had  been  to  you  the  night 
you  came  and  told  us  about  yourself.  I  felt  I  could  not  rest 
without  doing  something  to  help  you.  Therefore,  as  the  cap- 
tain returned  to  his  comrades,  I  followed  him  at  a  safe  distance, 
marking  my  way  carefully  at  every  step,  and  when  I  came  to 
the  glen  peeped  over  the  edge  of  the  cliff  at  you,  and  saw  you 
lying  there.  And  when  I  saw  you,  gaunt  and  pale,  and  like  a 
rat  in  a  trap,  I  knew  my  mind  was  quite  made  up.  First  I 
unrove  a  part  of  one  of  my  stockings,  tied  a  pebble  to  the  end 
of  the  thread,  lowered  it  down  the  mouth  of  the  gulf,  and  so 
measured  the  height  of  the  rocks  ;  and  then  went  home,  ne'er 
said  a  word  to  anybody  about  the  matter,  but  got  some  rope 
about  the  proper  length  out  of  the  hayloft,  and  by  working 
hard  made  the  knots  in  it,  and  thereby  also  made  -a  sad  mess 
of  my  gentle  maiden's  fingers.  Feel,  sir! " 

She  laughingly  brushed  her  open  hands  across  my  cheek, 
saying,  "  What  think  you  of  Dorothy  Marvin,  martyr  ?  "  And 
truth  to  tell,  in  some  degree  she  was  a  martyr,  because  her 
fingers  were  very  rough  and  blistered. 

"  Methought,"  she  added,  returning  to  the  narrative,  "  I 
might  be  perhaps  a  sorry  climber,  having  had  scant  practice  at 
the  business.  But,  my  word,  sir  !  you  should  have  seen  me 
this  afternoon  !  I  climbed  tree  after  tree,  and  swarmed  the 
rope  till  I  could  go  up  like  a  monkey.  Also  I  was  afeared  you 
might  be  weak  and  ill,  therefore  brought  that  phial  with  me.  I 
came  away  before  dark  hour,  that  I  could  find  my  way  to  the 
spot  with  certainty.  Upon  arriving  I  fixed  the  stake,  which  I 
brought  together  with  the  rope,  and  waited  till  nightfall.  But 
when  darkness  came,  I  am  ashamed  to  tell  you,  my  courage 
failed  for  long  enough.  Every  time  I  looked  down  into  that 
'black  abyss  I  shuddered,  yet  after  a  long  struggle  smothered 
my  fears  and  descended.  That  done  I  felt  equal  to  anything ; 
and  verily  should  have  been  abashed  at  nought,  I  felt  that  bold 
and  strong.  Just  then  a  sentinel  came  up,  so  I  crouched  down 
in  the  shadow  of  the  rock,  and  as  I  did  so  my  fingers  lit  on  a 
piece  of  stone,  whereat  I  happened  to  remember  old  daddy's 
maxim,  'that  in  war  time  'tis  your  first  duty  to  beat  the  enemy; 
and  that  it  is  a  commendable  plan  if  the  said  enemy  be  in  your 
power  to  kill  him  first,  and  beg  his  pardon  afterwards.'  Now, 
as  that  prowling  sentry  must  certainly  mar  the  scheme,  I  simply 
gave  him  a  little  tap  behind  the  ear  as  papa  hath  often  told  of 
doing.  Of  course,  I  meant  not  to  kill  him,  and  God  forgive  me 
for  laying  hands  upon  him  !  but  methinks  he  surely  will  not 


THE  STRANGE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  "  GOYAL." 


227 


die.  'Twas  such  a  lady's  tap,  though  wondrous  neat  of  exe- 
cution." 

"Dorothy,"  said  I,  almost  afraid  of  my  mine  own  boldness, 
"  would  you  like  to  hear  the  story  of  my  downfall  ? " 

"  Ned.  I  have  sought  to  divine  your  past  these  many  days.  I 
could  wish  for  nought  better  than  to  hear  the  story  from  your 
lips." 

With  that  I  told  her  all  in  an  honest  manner.  And  the  more 
I  told  her  the  easier  the  narrative  became,  for  I  felt  the  listener 
was  sympathetic ;  and  somehow  it  fell  out  that  when  the  first 
streaks  of  day  appeared,  and  the  east  grew  gray,  the  hand  of 
Black  Ned  lay  in  that  of  Mistress  Dorothy  Marvin. 

As  soon  as  there  was  light  enough  to  proceed  on  our  way,  we 
set  out  for  the  promised  place  of  refuge.  I  asked  the  maiden 
whither  it  lay,  but  she  only  laughed  and  bid  me  follow,  and  she 
would  lead  me  to  it.  The  rain  had  ceased  falling  now,  and  we 
stepped  out  briskly  over  the  glistening  heather. 

Certes  !  she  appeared  a  curious  creature  in  her  man's  attire ; 
but  it  did  not  ill-become  her.  Besides,  her  steps  were  so  light 
and  supple,  her  courage  so  bold,  and  'her  spirit  so  high  and 
noble,  that  she  might  have  donned  it  always,  and  without  the 
least  assumption.  Once,  however,  she  chanced  to  see  me  look- 
ing at  her,  and  thereupon  flushed  up  red  as  fire.  This  greatly 
disconcerted  me,  for  1  immediately  remembered  why  she  was 
wearing  such  habiliments  ;  thus  wished  a  hundred  times  I  had 
not  been  caught  a-staring.  We  trudged  along  straight  to  the 
manor  gates,  and  these  lay  before  us  ere  the  sun  had  climbed 
over  the  ridge  of  the  horizon. 

I  stopped  at  sight  of  them. 

"  Stay,  mistress  ! "  I  cried,  "  methinks  I  am  nearer  the  enemy 
than  ever.  I  must  go  no  farther  if  I  am  really  to  save  my  neck." 

"  Silence,  sir ;  no  questions,  I  beg.  Am  1  not  the  leader  of 
this  enterprise  ?  Therefore,  obey  your  superior  officer." 

I  did  so,  and  then  the  meaning  dawned  upon  my  heavy 
understanding.  She  proceeded  directly  in  among  the  under- 
growth and  brushwood  into  the  thickest  depths  of  the  spinney; 
I  ever  at  her  heels.  She  took  me  among  branches  and 
brambles,  stout  thickets,  close-grown  clumps  of  timber  and  wild 
masses  of  herbage.  Such  sequestered  spots  among  this  little 
wood  she  led  me  to  that  I  had  ne'er  visited  before ;  and  often- 
times we  were  so  close  beset  with  briers  that  our  hands  and 
cloaks  were  torn,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  we  saved  our 
faces.  At  last  we  came  to  a  spot  more  thickly  entangled  still. 
This  appeared  truly  impassable,  of  such  height,  strength,  and 


228  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

vastness  was  the  intermingled  density  of  verdure  ;  and  so  great 
was  the  power  of  its  resistance,  that  it  would  have  taken  more 
than  one  man  to  have  overcome  it. 

The  maid,  however,  had  a  path  at  her  disposal,  as  after  a 
strict  scrutiny  of  the  landmarks,  she  parted  a  group  of  bushes 
some  yards  to  her  left  hand ;  and  thereby  revealed  a  hidden 
opening.  Thro'  this  we  went  and  found  a  space  splendidly  for- 
tified by  impenetrable  shrubs;  and  as  I  stood  in  the  middle  of 
this  rare  hiding-place  I  tossed  up  my  hat  for  joy,  because  the 
prospect  meant  life  to  a  hunted  man. 

It  was  very  gloomy  by  reason  of  the  leafy  covering  overhead, 
and  the  great  strong  blocks  of  brier  and  bramble  on  every  side. 
There  was,  perhaps,  twenty  feet  of  clear  grass,  and  to  show  yet 
another  instance  of  my  deliverer's  forethought,  there  reposed 
two  thick  rugs  on  the  ground,  and  upon  raising  them  a  basket 
of  food  and  drink  was  disclosed  to  view.  Without  parley,  I  let 
loose  my  famished  self  and  greedily  attacked  this  blessed  store, 
and  Dorothy  worthily  seconded  my  efforts. 

"  Ned,  methinks  this  is  the  finest  hiding-place  in  the  king- 
dom," she  said  between  the  mouthfuls.  "  One  would  think  Sir 
Nicholas  Marvin's  estate  to  be  the  least  likely  spot  in  all  the 
world  to  find  Black  Ned." 

"  Take  back  the  foul  blow,  the  coward's  blow,  I  gave  that 
hateful  night,"  the  sweet-blooded  girl  implored  with  peculiar 
timidity  two  hours  after  our  arrival,  as  she  left  me  alone,  still  a 
free  man  in  body. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A  LESSON  IN  THE  LOST  ART  OF  MANAGING  WOMANKIND. 

I  MADE  no  answer  to  those  last  words  of  Mistress  Marvin's  ; 
any  reply  of  mine  would  have  been  inadequate.  She  left  me, 
promising  to  return  ere  the  day  was  out  to  bring  more  food. 

What  with  one  thing  and  another  my  brain  had  been  turned 
into  a  bewildered  chaos.  'Twas  hard  indeed  to  realize  that  I 
was  safe,  that  I  had  balked  and  evaded  the  King's  men  entirely, 
and  still  had  my  limbs  unfettered.  A  fierce  longing  grew  up 
within  me  to  accomplish  some  great  deed  for  the  behoof  of  my 
rescuer.  Just  then  I  should  not  have  accounted  life  too  dear  a 
price  to  have  paid  for  such  a  blessed  privilege.  I  was  nearly 
mad  with  joy.  After  all  the  maid  had  dared  and  done  for  me, 
who  could  doubt  that  she  returned  my  love  ?  Yet  that  was 


THE  LOST  ART  OF  MANAGING  WOMANKIND.        229 

merely  an  argument  of  youth.  A  man  more  advanced  in  years 
— one  with  a  less  supply  of  good  blood  and  that  far  more 
sluggish— might  have  known  that  the  whole  sex  of  womankind 
is  ne'er  so  strong  in  kindness  nor  so  prone  to  noble  deeds  as 
when  pity  hath  entered  into  its  heart. 

And  Dorothy  Marvin  pitied  me,  though  I  fail  to  discover  any 
good  reason  for  her  state  of  mind.  With  far  better  reason  she 
might  have  stuck  to  her  revilings,  for  truth  to  tell,  in  my  secret 
heart  (which  kept  rising  uppermost  as  cork  will  in  water),  I 
felt  myself  to  be  the  most  miserably  weak  and  paltry  creature 
ever  man  did  feel  in  a  woman's  presence.  To  me  she  seemed 
to  possess  all  the  manliness.  She  was  so  strong,  so  indomi- 
table, so  fearless  !  And  I,  knowing  this  much  of  her,  felt  all 
the  smaller  and  meaner  for  the  knowledge. 

The  maid  was  as  good  as  her  word,  for  that  afternoon,  as  I 
sat  with  my  back  against  the  tree,  in  the  midst  of  my  gloomy 
retreat,  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  lustrous  eyes  glowing  through  the 
bushes.  Next  moment  Mistress  Marvin  stood  beside  me. 

"  Here  I  am,"  she  said  gayly ;  "and  oh,  Ned,  methinks  thou 
wilt  bless  me  ten  thousand  times.  See  here,  sir,  what  I  have 
for  thee  !  " 

She  had  brought  a  full  basket  with  her.  Very  deftly  she 
whisked  away  the  cloth  at  the  top  and  produced  a  rare  roll  of 
tobacco,  a  pipe,  and  a  dozen  cigarros. 

"  There,  sir,  what  do  you  say  to  that  ?  Are  they  not  a  brave 
sight  ?  I  stole  them  when  Sir  Nicholas  went  to  sleep.  Oh, 
Ned,  I  am  behaving  very  monstrous  by  my  old  father  !  This 
morning  that  rascally  Captain  Pringle  came  with  the  wriest  face 
I've  seen  for  many  a  day,  and  told  papa  that  you  had  escaped 
them,  and  that  he  knew  not  how.  And  when  he  had  told  it 
all,  he  burst  out  a-cursing,  and  then  old  dad  went  black  in  the 
face.  He  seized  hold  of  the  little  captain  and  howled  at  him, 
'  Sayest  thou  sooth,  little  rat?'  The  King's  man  answered  that 
'twas  only  too  true,  and  swore  louder  than  ever.  And  then, 
Ned,  you'd  have  laughed  your  ribs  sore  had  you  but  seen  it, 
for  my  gouty  old  father  cried,  '  A  kick  for  a  curse,  you  fool ; ' 
and  lifted  him  with  his  sound  foot  bang  against  the  wall.  But 
poor  daddy  is  in  a  terrible  way.  He  hath  done  nought  but  rave 
since  he  heard  the  news,  and  only  to  think  his  own  daughter  is 
at  the  bottom  of  it,  and  you  biding  on  his  own  estate.  'Twould 
be  a  joke  indeed,  if  he  were  not  so  genuinely  angry.  Oh,  Ned, 
I  am  a  double-faced  sinner  !•  I  am  behaving  very  wickedly,  for 
he  is  the  very  kindest  of  fathers.  I  do  believe  if  he  knew,  he 
would  ne'er  forgive  me  !  " 


230  MISTRESS  DOKO THY  MA R  VIN. 

Her  bright  face  clouded  all  at  once,  and  there  came  a  look 
of  trouble  on  it.  All  the  same,  I  held  mine  own  opinion  as  to 
the  kindliness  and  the  fatherly  qualities  of  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin. 
It  ever  passes  my  comprehension  why  this  maid  should  have 
had  no  other  feelings  than  the  very  deepest  love  and  veneration 
for  the  callous  old  war-dog. 

"Hast  heard,  mistress,  what  they  purpose  doing  next?"  I 
inquired. 

"  Alas,"  she  replied,  laughing  again,  "  they  are  determined 
not  to  let  the  matter  rest,  and  Sir  Nicholas  hath  added  another 
hundred  pounds  to  what  he  hath  already  offered.  Captain 
Pringle  hath  a  very  strong  idea  you  are  still  lying  in  hiding  in 
the  hills;  yet,  Ned,  I  have  a  notion  that  you  and- 1  might  be 
able  to  prove  him  wrong." 

She  was  all  gayety  for  the  moment,  and  so  arch  and  delight- 
ful was  her  demeanor,  that  I  sighed  to  think  what  a  rare  prize 
she  was,  and  how  far  she  lay  beyond  my  reach.  Therein  lay 
the  gall  which  would  forever  dash  the  cup  of  delight  with 
bitterness.  Maybe  that  sigh  of  mine  was  infectious,  for  directly 
after,  my  companion  fetched  one  just  as  heartfelt  on  her  own 
account,  and  once  more  the  laughter  left  her  eyes. 

"  Ay,  Ned,  I  too  am  sorrowful.  Sometimes  when  I  think  of 
what  threatens  me,  I  feel  as  though,  like  King  What's-his-name, 
I  can  ne'er  smile  again.  Perchance  it  may  grieve  you  too,  Ned, 
for  'twill  be  my  wedding-day,  come  a  week  to-morrow." 

"What!"  I  exclaimed,  sore  taken  aback.  Just  then  I  had 
forgotten  that  wretched  Frenchman. 

"  You  may  well  cry  out,  lad.  At  times  I  feel  beside  myself 
about  it.  Married  in  a  week  to  a  jabbering,  shoulder-shrugging 
Frenchman.  Ugh,  horrible  !  Now,  I  might  have  abided  a 
reasonable  Englishman,  but  a  Frenchman,  never  !  I'm  weary 
to  death  of  that  country,  yet  when  I'm  wedded  to  my  cousin,  M. 
de  Crois,  I  shall  have  to  return  to  France  with  him.  Sir  Nicholas 
hath  declared  I  must  marry  him  ;  he  hath  given  my  hand  to 
him,  and  swears  on  oath  he  will  make  me.  I've  coaxed  him, 
and  defied  him,  and  threatened  him,  and  beseeched  him,  but 
he  will  list  to  nought  at  all." 

All  at  once  her  face  was  lit  with  passion.  She  rose  suddenly, 
and  commenced  walking  round  and  round  the  little  clearing 
like  a  caged  animal. 

"  I  love  my  father  !  "  she  exclaimed,  half  to  me,  half  to  her- 
self. "  I  adore  my  father.  I  revere  the  very  ground  he  treads. 
But  I'll  not  be  driven.  No,  I  won't !  I  hate  De  Crois,  I  hate 
the  man — I  hate  him  !  " 


THE  LOST  ART  OF  MANAGING  WOMANKIND.        231 

The  poor,  torn  creature  burst  into  frenzied  sobs  of  anger,  and 
forced  her  body  through  the  gap  in  the  brushwood,  and  went 
away  and  left  me  miserable.  Forgetting  danger,  I  went  after 
her  to  try  and  proffer  comfort,  because  'twas  more  than  I  could 
endure  to  see  her  so.  Yet,  quick  as  I  was,  she  was  already 
yards  away,  and  before  I  was  able  to  get  to  her  she  had  reached 
the  border  of  the  copse,  where,  to  my  terror,  she  came  face  to 
face  upon  her  father.  Instantly  I  flung  myself  face  foremost  in 
the  thicket  grass,  and  luckily  the  knight,  being  so  much  occupied 
with  his  young  daughter,  did  not  notice  me. 

"  Hillo,  Obstinate,"  he  growled  at  sight  of  her,  "  what  art 
doing  here  ?" 

"  Nothing,  sir." 

"  You  look  exceeding  amiable,  my  pretty  lady,"  said  he  sar- 
castically ;  "  but  ne'er  mind,  the  dressmakers  are  coming  to- 
morrow to  start  upon  your  wedding  clothes." 

The  maid  gave  vent  to  a  most  unfeminine  speech. 
"  Save  your  money,  sir,  save  your  money  !  "  she  replied  fiercely. 
"  I  don't  want  new  dresses.  Finery  will  but  mock  me.  A  week 
to-morrow,  I  shall  be  nought  better  than  a  beggar  at  a  feast. 
Why  do  you  force  me  into  this  thing  ?  I  hate  De  Crois  !  I  hate 
him!" 

"  So  you  still  harp  on  the  old  string,"  he  returned,  an  ugly 
rasp  in  his  voice.  "  I  tell  you  straight,  wench,  my  patience  hath 
nearly  fled.  I  do  all  I  can,  and  this  is  my  thanks.  I  am  far  too 
lenient.  In  my  young  days,  I  should  have  given  ye  a  sound 
thrashing  for  one  half  the  tongue  I  have  had  from  you.  And 
'twill  come  to  it  yet,  mark  my  words,  'twill  come  to  it  yet ! 
Years  gone  by  strapping  fellows  six  feet  four  in  their  stockings 
have  had  to  obey  my  every  word.  Did  they  cavil  and  sulk  ? 
Did  they  say  that  they  wanted  to  do  this,  and  wanted  to  do  that  ? 
Well,  now  I  come  to  think,  one  of  'em  did,  and,  by  St.  Louis,  I 
had  the  skin  flayed  off  his  back  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
afterwards.  Ods  my  life  !  'twill  come  to  it  yet !  " 

He  emphasized  this  by  tapping  his  stick  on  the  ground.  The 
maid  looked  at  him  boldly  ;  the  threat  cut  her  pride.  Her  eyes 
defied  him  as  she  answered — 

"  That's  all  very  well,  sir,  but  I  am  your  daughter.  You 
would  never  clare " 

"  Dare  ?  Don't  you  talk  to  me  about  daring.  I  tell  you, 
you  slim,  pretty  Good-for-naught,  I  have  had  about  enough  of 
your  airs  and  graces.  'Tis  quite  plain  I  have  pampered  you  till 
I've  made  you  a  fool,  and  now  you  are  trying  to  make  me  one. 


232  MISTRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VI N. 

Nice  thing,  very  !  Who  are  you  that  presumes  to  bandy  words 
with  the  man  who  hath  led  the  finest  cavalry  in  Europe  ?  " 

"  Your  daughter,  sir,"  she  said  simply  but  defiantly. 

Her  courage  touched  me,  for  the  knight  was  getting  angrier 
every  moment.  This  was  evident  by  his  liberal  oaths,  and  the 
rapid  workings  of  his  face.  Yet  the  maid  drew  herself  up  very 
rigid,  and  eyed  him  calmly,  unflinchingly. 

"  Alack,"  he  retorted,  "you  are  my  daughter,  worse  luck  ! 
And  a  pretty  creature  you  are,  are  you  not  ?  A  brave  branch 
from  a  worthy  tree  ?  You  who  are  sick  at  a  drop  of  blood,  you 
who  are  afeared  of  a  grain  of  salt,  you  who  faint  over  a  sword- 
thrust  in  the  arm,  and  weep  over  it  afterwards.  Alack,  you 
are  my  daughter!  I'  faith,  Heaven  owes  me'a  grudge  to 
send  me  a  poor,  puny,  white-livered,  milk-and-water  chit  of  a 
wench,  that's  only  good  to  cry,  and  to  show  impudence  towards 
her  betters — men  who  have  fought  and  bled  for  their  Sov- 
ereign, and  have  carved  their  names  in  history." 

The  man  knew  that  he  had  hit  her  hard.  Grimly  he  watched 
her  lower  her  eyes,  and  the  blood  glow  in  her  cheeks. 

"  Father,  did  I  not  promise  to  ride  to  the  wars  with  you  ? 
That  doth  not  look  as  though  I  am  afeared." 

"  I  want  deeds,  not  words." 

"  You  shall  have  them,  dear  papa,  if  you  will  but  give  me 
the  chance." 

She  was  trying  strategy  now.  'Twas  exquisite  to  hear  the 
music  of  her  caressing  tones,  and  the  wheedlingly  graceful  way 
she  used  them. 

"  Do  favor  me  this  once,  sir.  Let  me  accompany  you  to 
Holland,  and  I  will  be  a  credit  to  your  name." 

"  Pish  !  You  just  marry  the  count,  and  be  a  credit  to  some 
one  else's  name.  I'm  not  greedy.  We  will  let  the  men  of  the 
family  gain  honor  for  the  House  so  that  its  women  can  smirch 
it." 

"  Say  not  so,  father.  Please  do  not  make  me  marry  the 
count,  or  'twill  break  my  very  heart." 

She  said  this  pleadingly,  timidly,  wistfully,  and  put  her  arms 
round  his  neck,  kissed  his  cheek,  and  nestled  her  head  closely 
against  his  face.  Was  there  a  man  alive  who  could  resist  this 
coaxing  appeal  ?  Apparently  there  was,  for  the  knight  fiercely 
disengaged  her  arms  from  his  throat,  and  thrust  her  roughly 
from  him.  He  shook  his  finger  in  her  face,  and  showed  his 
stick  significantly. 

"  Enough  of  this.  The  game  is  too  old  ;  the  trick  is  too  stale. 
This  is  how  you  have  befooled  me  aforetime.  Yet,  not  again  ; 


THE  LOST  ART  OF  MANAGING  WOMANKIND.        233 

my  mind  is  quite  made  up,  and  my  patience  exhausted.  Give 
me  another  word,  and  I'll  allow  you  a  sore  back  for  a  wedding- 
present." 

This  cruel  speech  hurt  her  severely.  She  threw  up  her  head, 
and  stared  straight  at  him  without  a  spark  of  fear,  for  him  or 
his  stick  either.  Her  face  and  eyes  seemed  filled  with  fire. 

"Then  I  will  say  another  word,  sir,"  she  cried  in  a  voice  I 
had  ne'er  heard  her  use  to  him  before.  "  I'm  not  a  puppet ;  I'm 
not  a  doll  stuffed  with  sawdust;  I'm  a  living  being.  I've  a 
head  and  a  brain  and  a  heart  like  you,  sir.  I  can  think  and 
feel.  I've  said  I  don't  want  to  marry  the  count ;  and  I'll  say 
more — I  won't  marry  the  count !  " 

"  Mille  tonnerres !  "  shouted  the  knight  at  this  defiance ;  and  he 
grasped  his  stick  and  struck  her  a  horrid  blow  on  the  shoulders. 

'Twas  but  the  first  of  many.  He  seized  her  slim  wrists  in  his 
one  hand's  devilish  grip,  and  with  the  other  crashed  blow  after 
blow  on  to  her  defenceless  body.  'Twas  a  brutal  beating.  But 
she  took  it  without  a  cry,  without  one  plea  for  mercy,  almost 
without  a  murmur,  except  a  few  dull  moans  of  pain. 

I,  lying  prone  in  the  thicket,  was  stunned  by  the  sight.  My 
brain  was  stupefied,  my  limbs  paralyzed  ;  and  my  entire  body 
went  limp  and  numbed,  and  refused  obedience  to  the  will.  And 
though  I  would  have  forfeited  my  right  hand  to  have  felled  the 
wretch  in  his  gray  hairs,  I  could  not  move.  This  is  a  blot  up- 
on my  manhood,  at  least  I  believe  it  so  to  be  myself ;  lay  it  to 
the  door  of  nature,  not  to  mine. 

"There,  my  beauty!"  snarled  the  knight  when  he  had 
finished  plying  the  stick,  "  you  have  had  it  now.  Perhaps " 

But  he  was  interrupted.  The  girl  turned  on  him  in  a  fury. 
I  have  ne'er  seen  a  woman  quite  so  beautiful.  She  was  a  tigress, 
then,  with  her  bosom  quivering,  her  blood-lit  face,  and  her 
mercilessly  cruel  eyes. 

"Perhaps  you  think  I  shall  now  marry  the  count.  Sweet 
Lord,  will  I  ?  "  And  the  fearless  creature  stood  awaiting  a  re- 
newal of  the  blows. 

But  the  knight  was  a  beaten  man.  He  stared  at  her  as 
though  not  rightly  sure  whether  he  still  enjoyed  his  natural 
senses. 

"  You  young  devil !  "  he  screeched  betwixt  his  teeth  ;  then 
turned  on  his  heel  and  limped  away  towards  the  house. 

His  daughter  fell  back  against  a  tree  ;  and  though  her  nether 
lip  was  twitching,  she  kept  herself  (God  knows  how!)  from 
weeping.  Then  I  did  the  most  selfish  thing  in  all  my  life — I 
got  up  and  confronted  her.  At  sight  of  me  she  looked  as 
though  I'd  stuns:  her. 


234  ATJSTKESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

"  Go  away,"  she  commanded. 

"  Dorothy "  I  began. 

"  Go  away,  Ned !  "  she  interjected  fiercely ;  and  brushed 
away  the  tears  that  glistened  on  her  eyelashes. 

"  Why  do  you  cry  ?  "  I  asked,  my  method  cruel  ;  my  motive 
subtle. 

"I — I — f — feel  unwell,"  she  stammered. 

"  Because  your  father  beat  you  ?  " 

"  Y — e — s,  b — because  he  beat  me— like  a  dog." 

The  words  were  wrung  from  her  first  reluctantly,  then 
suddenly;  she  seemed  to  throw  them  in  my  teeth. 

"  He  is  a  brute,"  I  said. 

"  'Tis  a  lie  !  He  is  the  best,  the  noblest,  kindest  father  in 
the  world.  He  hath  forborne  till  he  can  forbear  no  longer. 
Go  away !  " 

"  But  I  must  speak." 

"  Oh,  go  away  ;  I  feel  half  dead.    I'll  come  and  see  you  soon." 

For  a  second  there  was  a  hard  struggle  in  this  fragile  maid  ; 
but  all  at  once  she  dropped  face  downmost  at  my  feet,  and  lay 
stretched  full  length  upon  the  grass  ;  then  sobbed  and  sobbed 
as  though  her  humiliated  heart  must  break. 

I  stayed  and  watched  the  tempest  of  her  angry  pain  ;  at  first 
with  a  beastlike  enmity  towards  one  man  ;  and  it  ran  in  my 
mind  to  beard  him,  and  make  him  regret  his  deed.  But  reflec- 
tion, the  destroyer  of  heroic  notions,  stopped  me ;  whereupon  I 
tarried  still  at  the  poor  maid's  side,  consumed  by  unutterable 
grief,  with  no  courage  in  my  heart  to  speak  one  word ;  till  my 
blunted  sensibilities  discovered  that  my  presence  tortured  her. 
Thereat  I  slunk  away,  and  for  many  hours  had  no  other  thought 
than  that  of  the  brutality  of  men. 

Do  not  think  me  unduly  presumptuous,  kinsmen,  if  I  confess 
that  after  this  time  of  brooding  woe,  hope  was  once  more 
rekindled  in  me.  Did  I  say  presumptuous  ?  O  God,  who  was 
I  that  dared  to  exalt  my  thoughts  towards  her  ?  An  outlaw,  a 
hunted  criminal,  a  man  who  had  to  steal  to  obtain  his  bread  ! 
And  yet  she  loved  me  ;  I  knew  she  loved  me.  There  was  the 
hope,  the  pity,  and  the  madness.  But  she  loved  her  father  also. 
The  problem  was  truly  purgatorial ;  I  looked  at  it  from  every 
side ;  examined  it  from  every  point  of  view ;  tried  to  grasp  it 
in  the  composite  ;  then  tried  to  analyze  it,  so  reduced  it  to 
controversial  fragments.  I  sought  to  deduce  a  result  from  bald 
facts,  and  failed.  There  was  the  cold-blooded  conundrum,  "If 
Ned  Armstrong  loves  Dorothy  Marvin,  and  Dorothy  Marvin 
loves  Ned  Armstrong,  and  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin  hates  Ned 


THE  LOST  ART  OF  MANAGING  WOMANKIND.        235 

Armstrong,  what  are  Ned  Armstrong's  prospects?"  'Twas  as 
pretty  a  puzzle  as  any  I've  ever  encountered  ;  but  there  was  a 
sort  of  madness  underlying  it.  A  dainty  problem  truly,  but 
one  to  send  a  man  to  Bedlam. 

In  the  end  I  was  thrust  back  upon  the  fundamental  fact  that 
the  answer  lay  with  Dorothy  herself.  Thus  I  waited  for  her 
coming.  I  felt  that  her  arrival  would  solve  it  for  all  time.  But 
the  shadows  crawled  across  the  sky,  yet  I  saw  her  not.  Soon 
the  darkness  fell  pitch  black,  yet  still  no  Dorothy.  The 
suspense  was  torture  to  me,  burnt  with  a  fever  of  the  mind. 
Had  aught  befallen  her  ?  Had  the  knight  inflicted  more  bru- 
talities upon  her  ?  Or  was  she  deciding  on  her  course  of  action  ? 
And  what  would  be  her  course  of  action  ?  Would  she  cleave 
to  me,  or  to  her  father  ?  And  if  she  clove  to  me,  would  she 
have  the  courage  and  the  strength  to  successfully  defy  her 
father  ?  Question  succeeded  question,  thought  succeeded 
thought,  and  by  and  by  fear  succeeded  hope. 

Kinsmen,  what  think  you  of  this  fool  and  his  folly  ? 

Hour  after  hour  passed,  and  each  hour  seemed  an  epoch. 
Still  I  lay,  love  lapt,  gazing  wildly  upon  the  darkness.  I  saw 
the  starlight  through  the  trees,  yet  never  called  on  God.  I  was 
afraid  of  Him;  yea,  just  then  I  hated  Him.  The  more  He 
exalted  me  above  my  fallen  state,  by  the  madness  He  had 
poured  inside  my  veins,  the  more  He  tortured  me. 

At  last  the  dawn  broke,  and  with  the  first  streaks  of  it  there 
came  Dorothy  Marvin.  I  heard  a  rustle  among  the  brushwood, 
and  next  instant  she  pushed  her  way  through  the  aperture.  She 
was  white  as  death,  but  her  mouth  was  firm  and  tight,  and  her 
eyes  steadfast  and  lustrous.  I  rose  at  once.  I  knew  by  her 
demeanor  that  we  had  arrived  at  perhaps  the  supremest  crisis 
in  our  lives. 

"  Ah,  lad,"  she  said,  "thy  face  betrays  thee." 

Her  voice  startled  me,  'twas  so  charged  with  great  emotions. 
I  tried  to  laugh,  but  could  only  tremble. 

;<  Thou  hast  had  never  a  wink  of  sleep  this  night,"  she  said  ; 
and  her  tone  had  depths  I  never  yet  had  known  ;  "  nor  have  I. 
Poor  pair  of  storm-tossed  imbeciles !  I  have  been  struggling 
all  night  long  to  go  with  my  duty  and  my  conscience.  It  hath 
been  as  though  my  brain  would  burst  through  my  head.  I've 
known  more  of  hell  these  last  few  hours  than  ever  I  hope  I  shall 
again.  Ned,"  she  cried,  gripping  my  arm,  and  again  I  saw 
how  deathly  white  her  face  was,  "  why  did  you  come  and  cut 
my  heart  in  two  ?  'Tis  you  that  have  acquainted  me  with 
sleeoless  niffhts.  I've  throbbed  as  I've  heard  your  tread ;  tingled 


236  MISTRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VIN. 

when  I've  heard  your  voice.  You  have  enlarged  my  soul. 
You've  given  me  a  new  life,  new  thoughts,  strange  raptures ! 
And  you  have  crushed  me  like  a  worm  !  You  have  set  your 
heel  upon  my  heart ;  you  have  murdered  me  !  " 

'Twas  grimly  spoken  ;  her  tone  was  deep  and  terrible.  'Twas 
the  travail  of  a  profound  abysmal  nature. 

"  Had  I  ne'er  seen  you,"  she  said,  and  her  bitterness  fright- 
ened me,  "  I  could  have  obeyed  my  father,  but  I  cannot  now. 
You  hold  the  key  that  unlocked  my  bosom.  Ned  Armstrong, 
you  madden  me  !  You  are  cruel,  merciless,  murderous,  to  make 
me  suffer  so  !  God,  was  ever  maid  so  torn  as  I  ! " 

Here  the  half-wild  tempestuous  girl  began  pacing  up  and 
down  once  more  in  the  throes  of  torture.  Her  face,  bloodless, 
strained,  and  eager,  looked  unearthly  to  my  sight.  We  were 
both  in  that  ecstatic  state  of  mind  when  ardent  creatures  live  a 
lifetime  in  a  moment.  Each  of  us  was  packed  with  a  multiplicity 
of  passion.  'Twas  a  time  when  simple  souls  do  deal  in 
tragedies. 

"  Why  did  you  trick  me,  cheat  me,  dupe  me,  fool  me  ?  "  she 
cried.  "Why  did  you  come  with  the  air  of  an  honorable  man, 
with  the  mien  of  an  honorable  man  ?" 

"  Because  my  love  is  honorable,"  I  said  with  great  violence. 

"  I  know  it,  I  know  it !  I  know  your  love  is  honorable. 
There  lies  your  brutality.  You  say  you  are  a  thief,  a  fugitive 
from  justice ! " 

"  And  being  that,"  I  said,  and  my  voice  was  bitterer  than 
verjuice,  "  my  soul  is  poisoned,  my  virtues  are  polluted.  Be- 
cause I  steal  a  purse,  I  cannot  earn  an  honest  groat ;  because  I 
steal  a  purse,  I  cannot  do  a  worthy  deed ;  because  I  steal  a 
purse,  I  cannot  cherish  an  honorable  sentiment." 

"You  taunt  me,"  she  said  haughtily  brutal.  "And  I  will 
not  be  taunted  by  Black  Ned.  You  are  as  dirt  beneath  my 
feet." 

Her  eyes  were  very  cruel. 

"  I  may  be  dirt ;  but  I  will  not  be  trampled  on,"  I  flashed 
back  savagely,  then  made  towards  the  outlet. 

But  she  was,  too  alert  for  me.  She  ran  forward  quick  as 
lightning,  and  set  her  back  against  it. 

"  You  must  not  go  !  you  shall  not  go  !  " 

Knowing  what  I  did  of  her,  I  was  well  aware  I  should  have 
been  obliged  to  kill  her  to  have  escaped  just  then.  I  stood 
chewing  my  lips ;  and  looked  at  her  with  unutterable  scorn  ; 
being  almost  convulsed  with  rage.  I  forgot  all  her  nobleness, 
her  magnanimity  towards  me,  a  thief ;  I  only  remembered  that 


THE  LOST  ART  OF  AI A  NAG  ING  WOMANKIND.        237 

she  had  flung  my  crimes  in  my  teeth  when  she  had  least  right 
to  do  so.  She  knew  I  was  entirely  at  her  mercy ;  she  knew  I 
owed  her  more  than  life ;  yet  had  put  her  foot  upon  my  neck, 
and  now  sought  to  crush  the  life  out  of  me.  Had  she  delivered 
me  from  death  for  this  ?  I  had  a  horrible  desire  to  strangle 
her.  But  quick  as  thought  she  read  that  devilish  emotion. 

"  Ned  Armstrong,"  she  said  simply,  and  though  she  did  not 
seem  afeared,  was  humbler  and  sadder  than  ever  before  I  had 
seen  her,  "  I've  been  a  brute  to  thee,  but  a  bigger  one  unto  my- 
self. I  know  that  which  Black  Ned  himself  alone  doth  know. 
Black  Ned  is  a  man  of  honor.  Thou  mayst  tear  my  tongue  out 
an  thou  wilt." 

She  came  softly  from  the  outlet  then,  and  left  me  a  free 
departure.  Tear  after  tear  dropped  down  her  face — rebellious 
tears.  She  wept  for  her  own  humility. 

I  gazed  half-stunned  at  the  proud,  passionate  girl,  so  power- 
ful, so  wild  blooded  and  so  courageous.  She  was  utterly  crushed 
under  the  weight  of  her  humiliation.  Her  anger  had  let  her  take 
a  cruel  advantage,  and  now  she  felt  what  the  deed  involved. 

"  You'll  forgive  me,  Ned  ? "  she  pleaded,  and  put  one  hand 
upon  my  arm. 

I  said  nothing  ;  being  something  of  an  egoist,  I  felt  myself 
much  injured.  But  next  instant  it  struck  me  that  I  was  acting 
like  a  cur.  How  dare  I  stand  so  much  upon  my  dignity  ? 

"  Mistress,"  I  answered,  "  he  that  owes  you  his  life  twice 
over,  can  ne'er  have  aught  to  forgive  in  you" 

"  Then  hear  me,  Ned,"  she  said,  wildly  earnest.  "  I  am  a 
girl,  a  young  and  undefended  girl.  And  thou,  Ned  Armstrong, 
art  a  hunted  criminal,  a  thief,  an  outlaw,  a  man  attainted  of  high 
treason.  Thou  art  hounded  high  and  low,  and  thy  life  may  be 
forfeited  any  moment.  Thou  hast  no  friends,  no  resources, 
and  can  barely  evade  the  law.  Yes,  I  know  all  this,  and  I  know 
I  shall  be  condemned  as  mad  or  worse.  Nor  do  I  care.  I  will 
go  with  thee.  Thou  art  a  man  of  honor  /" 

As  she  spoke  these  words,  her  voice  grew  more  and  more  high 
pitched,  till  at  last  it  seemed  to  assume  a  ring  of  triumph. 

Next  moment  she  kissed  me  on  the  lips,  and  afterwards  stood 
before  me  rigid  and  dauntless,  her  mouth  firm  and  unflinching, 
and  her  eyes  wild  with  sparkles.  'Twas  as  though  she  were 
invoking  all  the  world  to  witness  what  she  had  done. 

When  she  spoke  again  she  completely  startled  me. 

"  Ned,"  she  asked  softly,  "  dost  thou  believe  in  God  ?  An' 
thou  dost,  we  will  beg  for  the  strength  to  fight  our  enemies." 

In  one  hand  she  took  a  silver  crucifix,  which  was  suspended 
16 


238  tVISTRKSS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

from  a  ribbon  round  her  neck  (being  bred  a  Romanist),  clasped 
it  in  her  fingers,  and  knelt  on  the  ground  and  prayed. 

I  stood  still  and  dully  watched  her  do  this.  I  was  more  a 
sheep  than  a  man  that  minute.  I  did  not  like  to  look  at  her. 
yet  did  look  by  a  sort  of  fascination.  I  was  awed  by  this  fine 
creature's  faith — the  faith  which  I  had  not.  I  was  ashamed, 
unmanned,  yet  almost  happy.  'Twas  the  newest  proof  that  she 
could  command  my  better  nature ;  had  I  tried  I  should  have 
been  powerless,  just  then,  to  have  fallen  upon  my  knees,  and 
so  have  played  the  hypocrite. 

Soon  the  girl  arose,  and  her  face  was  such  that  it  did  a  weak- 
ling good  to  see  it. 

"  My  lad,"  she  said  with  a  noble  boldness,  "you  and  1  have 
got  to  fight,  and  shall  have  all  the  world  against  us.  Art 
afraid  ?  " 

"  Not  unless  thou  art." 

"  Thy  hand,"  she  demanded,  and  upon  receipt  of  it  she 
squeezed  it  in  a  most  unmaidish  grip. 

Kinsmen,  she  stood  intrepidly  upright,  with  the  warlike  eye 
of  some  heroic  deity  ;  waved  one  hand  above  her  head,  and 
snapped  her  fingers  at  the  bushes.  "  We  shall  live  to  treat 
our  enemies  like  that,"  she  said. 

It  may  have  been  bravado  in  her,  yet  I'll  swear  'twas  a  true 
index  to  her  feelings  at  that  moment. 

"  You  understand,"  she  said  imperiously,  "  you  and  I  are 
not  a  pair  of  lovers,  we  are  comrades.  I  am  not  your  '  dear,' 
or  your  'mistress,'  or  your  'lady,'  but  your  brother-in-arms. 
A  tremendous  work  lies  before  us.  We  must  be  staunch, 
whate'er  betide,  and  fight  together.  And  when  we've  gained 
the  day,  then,  and  not  till  then,  can  we  spare  time  to  talk  of 
love  and  suchlike  airy  nonsense." 

"  Airy  nonsense  !  "  I  reiterated,  and,  kinsmen,  do  you  know, 
I  felt  somewhat  hurt  and  disappointed. 

"  Yes,  yes,  yes  !  "  she  went  on  impatiently.  "  I  did  say  '  airy 
nonsense.'  We  must  work  first,  and  play  when  the  work  is 
done.  If  we  waste  valuable  hours  cooing  love-sick  ditties, 
and  babbling  midsummer  sentiment,  some  fine  morning  I  shall 
be  Madame  la  Comtesse  de  Crois,  and  you  will  be  grinning  in 
a  tight  cravat  at  Taunton  jail." 

And  so  in  lieu  of  a  better  clinching  of  the  compact,  I  had  to 
be  content  with  handshakes. 

"  Ned,"  she  said,  "  'twill  be  no  fault  of  mine,  if  my  father  and 
De  Crois  coerce  me." 

"  But  how  can  you  hope  to  defeat  them,  and  in  what  way  can  I 


THE  LOST  ART  OF  MANAGING  WOMANKIND.        239 

assist  you  ?  "  I  asked,  feeling  suddenly  how  hopeless  it  all  was, 
and  how  helpless  was  Ned  Armstrong. 

"  You  can  do  but  one  thing  for  me  at  present,  dear  lad," 
she  answered  with  rare  simplicity — "  that  is,  to  nerve  my  cour- 
age always  to  its  highest  pitch.  I  shall  have  great  need  of 
every  ounce  that  I  possess." 

"  But  how  can  you  hope  to  thwart  Sir  Nicholas  and  the 
count  ? "  I  inquired,  dubious  though  filled  with  admiration. 

"  By  this,"  and  she  placed  one  hand  upon  her  forehead. 

"  I  presume  that  doth  mean  by  strength  of  will  ? " 

"  Faith  !  thy  wits  are  marvellously  keen  for  so  early  in  the 
morning." 

Her  tone  was  prettily  satirical. 

"  Ned,"  she  said — passion  had  somewhat  subsided  in  her 
voice — "'tis  a  bitter  thing  to  be  in  open  enmity  against  him 
thou  hast  loved,  admired,  and  reverenced  from  thy  babyhood. 
'Tis  a  cruel  thing,  but  what  can  avail  me  ? " 

"There  is  one  way,"  I  insinuated.  ,Kinsmen,  I  hope  you 
sniff  this  subtlety.  I  was  deliberately  encouraging  her  present 
train  of  thought.  Why  ?  To  learn  if  possible  the  precise 
strength  of  my  position  ;  in  other  words,  to  learn  the  magni- 
tude of  Ned  Armstrong's  advantage  over  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin. 

"  'Tis  true,"  she  answered  sadly,  not  guessing  aught  of  the 
subtlety  in  question.  "  I  have  merely  to  marry  my  cousin,  then 
there  would  be  a  consummation  of  the  peace  at  Kelston  Manor. 
The  fatted  calf  would  be  killed,  my  old  dad  would  preach  ten 
sermons  on  the  '  young  wench  that  went  astray  ; '  but  he'd  for- 
give, with  a  grunt,  his  rebellious  daughter.  And  we  should 
have  the  old  gentleman  drinking  'the  health  of  the  bride '  so 
zestfully  in  brandy  punch,  that  he'd  have  to  be  carried  to  bed 
by  the  servants,  whilst  his  daughter  would  have  the  consolation 
of  knowing  that  she  had  made  him  cheerfully  drunk  at  the  cost 
of  her  lifetime's  happiness.  It  may  be  selfishness,  but  I  dare 
not  kill  my  soul  to  please  my  father  for  twenty  minutes." 

I  was  astonished  at  her  bitterness.  Yet  she  must  have  been 
above  mere  mortals  if,  in  a  case  so  cruel,  she  had  been  free 
of  it. 

"My  lad,"  she  continued,  and  her  tone  was  bitterer  still, 
whilst  the  smile  about  her  lips  was  not  one  that  gave  me  pleas- 
ure, "  his  worship's  stick  did  not  break  his  daughter's  back,  but 
'twas  the  straw,  though  a  somewhat  weighty  one,  that  broke  the 
camel's.  But  that  is  not  the  worst.  He  was  angry  then,  and 
was,  methinks,  quite  within  his  right ;  the  dreadful  part  is  he 
hath  told  me  since,  when  in  his  rational  mind,  with  his  blood 


240  MISTKESS  DORO THY  MAR  VIN. 

cool  and  his  temper  normal,  that  he  hath  hated  me  from  my 
birth.  There  have  been  times  when  I  almost  guessed  this,  yet 
could  never  spur  myself  to  a  full  belief  of  it.  Yet  I  know  it 
now,  I  know  it  now !  And  I  might  have  known  it  years  ago, 
if  I  had  but  dared  to  think  about  it.  I  could  ne'er  bring  a  light 
to  his  eye,  nor  life  to  his  cheek,  nor  a  grip  to  his  fingers.  And 
I  have  loved  him  better  than  my  life  all  these  years,  and  I  love 
him  now ;  but  we  can  ne'er  be  as  we  used  to  be  !  " 

Her  misery  was  unutterable.  The  old  knight  had  already 
taken  the  most  venomous  vengeance  possible.  I  had  never 
credited  him  with  much  perception,  yet  that  he  must  have  had, 
because  to  have  punished  her  so  severely  by  that  unpaternal 
speech  could  only  have  been  by  a  deep  and  accurate  reading 
of  her  sentiments.  Meanwhile,  it  flashed  upon  me  suddenly 
why  this  maid  was  willing  to  dare  and  to  sacrifice  so  much  for 
me.  The  reason  may  have  been  a  mighty  one,  but  'twas  not 
of  a  nature  to  make  me  at  all  vainglorious.  Kinsmen,  even  the 
noblest  women  must  have  a  supply  of  that  gracious  quality  of 
which  they  give  so  much  away  ;  they  must  have  sympathy. 
And  to  this  hour  'tis  my  belief  that  I  was  the  only  person  the 
forlorn  girl  knew  in  the  world,  from  whom  she  could  spontane- 
ously seek  it.  I  will  not  boast  that  I  thoroughly  understood 
the  entire  complexity  of  her  character ;  yet  what  I  did  know  of 
it  I  loved,  admired,  and  reverenced ;  and  this  I  consistently 
betrayed  to  her  by  looks  and  words  and  actions. 

"  Dorothy,"  I  asked,  "do  you  not  fear  your  father?  I  must 
say  I  am  desperately  afraid  of  him,  myself." 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  with  the  suspicion  of  shudder,  "  I  do.  I 
am  a  mere  kitten  in  his  hands.  Every  year  I  have  lived  with 
him  I  have  known  him  to  be  my  master;  I  might  thwart  him  in 
little  things,  I  might  be  disobedient  for  half  an  hour  together, 
I  might,  when  his  gout  was  very  good,  be  saucy  to  him,  and  so 
presume  upon  his  kindly  nature  with  my  nuisance  of  a  tongue. 
But  when  I  arrived  at  what  I  knew  to  be  my  high-water  mark 
of  perversity,  his  High-mightiness  would  give  me  a  look  with  a 
special  eye,  and  would  say  in  a  special  manner,  '  Wench,  let  me 

have  two  more  words  from  you,  and  I'll '  Ned,  my  lad, 

he'd  'clutch  his  stick  ;  whereat  the  kitten  would  have  to  stand 
still  and  tremble,  lest  it  had  its  puny  little  claws  cut.  But  dost 
know,  my  lad,  'twas  a  most  delicious  feeling!  " 

Kinsmen,  I  confess  I  broke  into  a  guffaw  of  laughter. 

"I  mean  it,"  she  replied,  and  she  was  laughing  also.  ",'Tis 
a  delight  to  know  sometimes  that  there  is  such  a  thing  upon  the 
earth  as  your  master.  Tis  a  subtle,  indescribable  pleasure  to 


THE  LOST  ART  OF  MANAGING  WOMANKIND.       241 

feel  the  bit  tugged  occasionally.  When  you  go  for  a  week  at  a 
time  with  the  gardener,  the  ostler,  the  steward,  the  butler,  the 
cook,  and  the  maids  perpetually  bobbing  and  doing  your  bid- 
ding ;  and  with  the  dogs  and  horses  forever  obedient  to  your 
will — I  never  had  one  yet  that  wasn't — 'tis,  I  repeat,  delicious 
to  hear  his  seventy-two-year-old  worship  thunder,  '  Dorothy, 
you  young  devil,  you  do  this,'  and  to  feel,  e'en  if  he  hath  bade 
you  put  your  finger  in  the  fire,  that  you  dare  not  for  your  life 
relieve  your  itching  tongue  by  replying,  '  Sir,  I'll  see  you  hanged 
first ! ' ' 

"  Then,  dearest,  you  like  to  be  obedient  ?  " 

"  No,  but  I  like  to  know  sometimes  that  I  have  to  be.  My 
old  father  always  says  that  it  behoves  all  men  to  ride  the  women 
on  the  curb,  and  to  keep  the  reins  tight  and  well  in  hand.  He 
says,  if  you  give  us  women  an  ell,  we  take  a  yard  ;  allow  us  a 
slack  rein,  and  we  mighty  soon  get  superior  notions.  Had  my 
father  given  me  a  taste  of  his  stick  once  a  month,  whether  I 
needed  it  or  not,  I  had  been  all  the  better  for  it." 

"  What ! ''  I  cried,  astounded.  "  Then  thou  hast  no  faith  in 
the  chivalry  of  man  ?  " 

"  Chivalry  !  "  and  she  curled  her  lip.  "  '  Tis,  very  well  for 
those  who  tilt  at  windmills.  But  with  all  due  deference  to  you, 
my  gallant,  if  I  ever  do  allow  myself  a  husband  "  (kinsmen,  the 
naughty  maid  looked  sly),  "  he  must  be  a  man,  understand  me, 
sir,  a  real  man,  not  a  pretty  plaything,  all  sugar  and  sweet 
speeches,  who  daren't  say  '  be  hanged  ! '  to  a  lady.  No,  I  must 
have  one  who  can  make  me  do  things  that  I  do  not  want  to  do 
— one  who  shall  be  my  master.  That's  why  I  despise  my 
cousin.  I  should  be  his  master.  Of  course  he  is  polite  as  a 
valet,  and  smooth  as  a  pot  of  pomatum,  but  he's  all  polish,  all  tin- 
sel, no  true  metal,  all  shell  and  no  kernel.  Ned,  my  lad,  I  should 
bully  him,  whereas  I  would  like  a  man  who  could  bully  me  some- 
times. I  should  be  tempted  to  be  a  tyrant  and  a  brute  to  the 
pretty  boy.  Dost  recollect  what  King  Charles  said  of  young 
Prince  George  ?  Said  he,  '  I've  tried  Prince  George  sober,  and 
I've  tried  Prince  George  drunk,  but,  drunk  or  sober,  there  is 
nothing  in  him.'  'Tis  the  same  with  Raoul  de  Crois.  I  should 
be  too  strong  for  the  lad.  In  a  year  he'd  no  longer  be  rny 
husband — he'd  be  my  lap-dog.  And  I  don't  want  a  lap-dog  ;  I 
want  a  man,  a  real  man,  a  man  like  my  old  dad.  who  could  say, 
'Dorothy,  thus  far  shalt  thou  go,  and  no  farther.'  " 

"  Dorothy,"  said  I  nervously,  "  you  forget  your  auditor." 

"  I    don't,"  she   said   coolly.     "  I  am  talking  to   Ned  Arm- 


242  MISTKESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

strong.  I'll  not  deny  that  he  hath  his  faults,  but  he's  still  a  man, 
in  spite  of  "em." 

She  looked  at  me  as  solemn  as  a  judge  ;  and  though  her  mode 
of  thinking  was  so  truly  strange,  certes  'twas  none  the  less 
sincere.  And  for  myself,  I  felt  it  one  of  the  rarest  moments  in 
my  life,  because  she  had  honored  me  with  so  much  of  her 
private  mind. 

Soon  afterwards  she  left  me.  I  had  now  the  knowledge  that 
the  bravest  maid  in  Somerset  was  mine.  Yes,  mine  assuredly 
if  I  could  but  evade  the  King's  men  till  William  came  and  took 
the  Crown,  and  if  Dorothy  could  thwart  the  Frenchman  and  her 
father.  Hers  was  the  more  immediate  trial;  and  I  must  admit 
that  when  I  thought  of  what  she  might  have  to  undergo,  I  be- 
came woefully  anxious.  Her  parent  had  no  sense  of  mercy  ; 
yet,  when  all  was  said,  methought  that  circumstance  was  cer- 
tainly in  my  favor.  Being  so  big  a  brute,  'twas  plain  that  he 
would  try  to  make  the  girl  submissive  to  his  wishes,  not  by  per- 
suasion, but  by  force ;  and  this,  I  had  the  sense  to  know, 
was  the  most  foolish  course  he  could  adopt.  Whatever  she  might 
declare  to  the  contrary;  in  extreme  cases,  that  is,  whene'er  her 
pride  was  called  in  question,  the  only  means  of  getting  her  to  do 
a  thing  against  her  wishes  was  to  coax  her,  not  to  drive  her. 
It  may  have  been  her  spirit,  or  a  certain  perversity  in  her  nat- 
ure, or  the  result  of  her  rigid  paternal  education,  I  know  not 
which,  but  1  believe  myself  a  little  of  the  three,  that  accounted 
for  this  stubbornness.  Anyway,  I  do  know  that  this  young 
maid,  though  forever  at  a  tyrant's  mercy,  had  a  will  there  was 
precious  little  bending.  'Twas  only  susceptbile  to  fair  words, 
and  hardened  into  adamant  when  less  kindly  arguments  were 
used.  The  knight  had  gravely  erred  when  he  had  called  per- 
sonal violence  to  his  assistance,  for,  besides  losing  his  temper, 
he  had  lost  his  cause  as  well.  Yet  do  not  let  me  dilate  too 
much  on  this  condemnation  of  Sir  Nicholas,  because  his  stick 
and  his  temper  were  two  very  true  friends  of  mine.  Kinsmen, 
to  your  ears  this  statement  may  sound  brutal,  but  I  was  just  as 
sure  of  its  reliability  as  I  was  that  Dorothy,  in  the  depths  of  her 
heart,  would  ne'er  forgive  her  father's  pair  of  injudicious  sat- 
ellites. 


BEA  77  PA  CIFICI  t  2  43 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

BEATI  PACIFICI  ! 

THE  afternoon  of  that  same  day  she  came  again  to  see  me. 
Soon  she  proved  how  kind  and  thoughtful  she  could  be  in  little 
things,  because,  to  my  surprise,  she  brought  two  swords  along 
with  her. 

"  Here,  lad,"  she  said,  "  is  kindness  for  you.  I  have  smug- 
gled these  from  the  lumber-room — father  keeps  about  a  dozen 
there  ;  and  as  I  know  you  are  as  miserable  as  a  dog  that  hath 
lost  its  tail,  to  be  cooped  up  here  for  hours  with  nought  to  do 
but  count  your  fingers  and  brood  on  the  way  Dorothy  Marvin 
does  her  hair,  you'd  better  take  hold  of  this,  and  I'll  have  a 
bout  with  you,  so  that  you  can  keep  your  hand  in." 

I  obeyed  her  with  alacrity.  'Twas  not  the  first  time  by  many 
that  we  had  encountered  one  another. 

She  promised  me,  in  her  wickedest  way,  three  kisses  if  I  could 
disarm  her  three  times  within  ten  minutes.  I  twice  performed 
the  feat  in  the  first  five,  but  try  as  I  might  (and  I  employed 
every  wile  and  artifice  at  my  command,  and  worked  myself  in- 
to a  perspiration)  I  could  not  earn  my  guerdon.  And  I  felt  it 
somewhat  hard  when  she  flatly  refused,  and  not  without  some 
sly  hints  and  ridicule,  to  allow  it  me  as  she  declared  I  had  not 
earned  it.  The  truth  is,  had  she  had  a  man's  physique,  she  must 
have  been  one  of  the  first  fencers  of  the  time.  She  could  teach 
me  much  I  did  not  know  about  the  science  of  the  art ;  could 
practically  demonstrate  her  principles ;  and  had  remarkable 
courage,  suppleness,  judgment  and  dexterity  with  which  to  do  so. 

Presently  we  sate  down  side  by  side  upon  the  grass,  the  pair 
of  swords  between  us.  Soon  we  fell  to  talking. 

"  How  goes  the  war,  dearest  ?  "  I  inquired,  forebodingly  anx- 
ious to  hear  how  she  had  fared  with  her  tyrant  of  a  father. 

"  Badly,"  she  answered  dolefully  ;  "  the  belligerent  hath  been 
uncomfortably  active." 

"  There  has  been  no  repetition  of  yesterday,  I  hope  ?  " 

"  No,"  and  she  began  to  laugh,  "  there's  been  no  more  as- 
saults at  present.  But  the  besieger  threatens  to  starve  the 
garrison." 

"  Nay,"  said  I,  incredulous. 

"  He  does,  though  !  There  hath  been  a  pronunciamento  to 
that  effect  this  morning.  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin,  owing  to  his 


244  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

daughter's  '  damnable  obstinacy,'  has  postponed  the  wedding 
till  she  surrenders.  '  And,'  says  he,  'in  the  mean  time  he  will 
allow  me  one  week  to  alter  my  mind  and  mend  my  manners 
generally  ;  but  if  in  that  time  they  are  not  changed  to  his  liking, 
he  will  clap  me  under  lock  and  key  in  the  garret,  and  keep  me 
on  bread  and  water  (like  they  do  in  the  army)  till  1  have  found 
my  senses.'  " 

"  Well,  I'll  be  shot !     And  what  said  you  to  that  ?  " 
"  I  said  that  which   Sir  Richard  Lovelace  hath  said  for  me 
already — 

"  '  Stone  walls  do  not  a  prison  make, 

Nor  iron  bars  a  cage  ; 
Minds  innocent  and  quiet,  take 
That  for  an  hermitage.'  " 

"  And  what  said  he  ? " 

"  He  wanted  to  know  whether 'minds  innocent  and  quiet ' 
took  as  kindly  to  bread  and  water.  For  himself,  he  said  he 
had  some  doubts,  because  he'd  tried  bread  and  water  in  divers 
Dutch  dungeons,  but  after  three  days  it  grew  mighty  cold  to  the 
stomach." 

"  But  he'll  ne'er  do  that,"  said  I,  aghast  at  such  arbitrary 
methods. 

"  Won't  he  ?  You  don't  know  him,  my  lad.  If  he  says  a 
thing  he  does  it,  unless  Providence  prevents  him." 

"  What  a  brute  he  is  !  "  I  exclaimed  fervently. 

"  Ned  Armstrong,  how  dare  you,  sir !  "  she  cried,  her  cheeks 
aflame,  her  eyes  fire,  whilst  she  looked  quite  bewitchingly 
angry.  "  If  you  live  to  the  age  of  seventy-two,  sir,  and  do  in 
that  time  one-half  as  much  for  your  name  and  fame,  and  ex- 
hibit one-quarter  his  military  genius,  you'll  be  entitled  to  respect 
from  springalds,  and  to  obedience  from  your  children.  My  lad, 
you  forget  yourself." 

"  Then  you  forgive  him  ? ''  I  asked  humbly. 

"  Forgive  him  !  "  she  echoed  swiftly  ;  "  you  said  '  forgive 
him?'  Ton  my  word,  that  is  magnificent!  Dorothy  Marvin 
forgive  her  father  !  \Ve  shall  hear  of  a  candle  next  forgiving 
the  sun  for  melting  it !  " 

"  I  don't  understand  the  man  at  all,"  I  said  lamely,  trying  to 
mend  matters,  but  too  crushed  to  do  the  thing  becomingly. 

"You  don't,"  she  answered  coolly.  "Look  here,  my  lad." 
she  demanded  imperiously,  "  what  dost  think  I  am — a  god- 
dess ? " 

"  Yes,"  said  I ;  "to  me  you  are  a  goddess." 


BE  ATI  PACIFIC  I! 


245 


She  looked  at  me,  keen  as  any  hawk,  to  see  if  I  were  laugh- 
ing at  her  ;  but  beholding  me  exceeding  grave  and  earnest,  she 
calmly  stroked  the  dimple  of  her  chin,  and  said,  with  the  most 
unctious  deliberation,  and  impudent  as  possible — 

"Well,  yes,  perhaps  I  am  a  goddess — a  goddess  with  a 
temper." 

"  But,  Dorothy,  what  does  your  father  think  you  are  ?  " 

"  A  dog,"  she  replied  between  tears  and  laughter — "  a  dog,  to 
obey  his  whistle  or  else  be  beaten  till  it  does.  And  I'd  be 
only  too  blithe  to  obey  it,  because  I  know  it  to  be  my  duty; 
but  there's  a  contrary  something  in  my  heart  that  will  not  let 
me." 

She  had  no  laughter  when  she  spoke  those  last  words.  Her 
face  was  full  of  pain,  and  her  eyes  of  misery. 

"  Ned,  'tis  cruel  of  thee  to  so  oft  recall  my  unhappiness,  and 
make  me  dwell  upon  it  as  thou  dost." 

The  reproach  was  thoroughly  deserved,  yet  the  cruelty  was 
not  intentional,  but  simply  the  outcome  of  human  weakness, 
because,  whenever  we  discussed  her  pitiable  plight,  the  con- 
versation, by  vaguely  recalling  my  fortunate  position,  always 
left  a  delicious  after-taste  of  bliss  which,  in  turn,  distilled  a 
sweet  aroma  of  felicity. 

"  Hast  thou  seen  thy  cousin  again,  dearest  ?  "  I  inquired, 
trying  to  deflect  the  light  to  the  least  terrible  of  our  enemies. 

"  Yes,  I  saw  him  this  morning.  Full  as  usual  of  politeness 
and  '  lovely  maid,  fairest  flower  of  earth,  I  love  thee  '  speeches. 
The  idiot  was  abominably  amorous.  One  uses  the  stick 
and  t'other  the  tongue  to  batter  me  into  submission.  I  know 
not  which  instrument  be  the  worst.  One  stings  and  t'other  ir- 
ritates. He  hath  given  me  no  less  than  seven  opportunities  of 
calling  him  a  fool  already.  Ned,  you  that  are  a  man  of  learn- 
ing, just  puzzle  your  brains,  and  find  me  a  stronger  word  than  fool. 
I  want  a  word  more  expressive,  a  bolder  word,  a  larger  word,  a 
word  that's  a  bigger  mouthful,  but,  at  the  same  time,  it  must 
be  one  that  shall  sound  decent  from  the  lips  of  a  maid." 

"  But  I  thought  any  word  was  good  enough  for  Dorothy 
Marvin  ? " 

"Not  so,  my  master,"  she  said,  guessing  my  purpose,  and 
nimbly  defeating  it.  "  I  have  to  study  Ned  Armstrong  now. 
You  see,  my  mouth's  so  pretty,  and  that  lad  Ned  admires  it  so, 
that  I  must  not  spoil  the  shape  of  it  by  the  use  of  ugly 
words." 

"Then  I'll  suggest  jolterhead,"  I  said,  as  gravely  as  I 
could. 


2  46  MIS  TRESS  DOKO  TH  Y  MA  R  VIN. 

"  No,  that's  lame.  It  halts.  I  want  a  word  that  comes  like 
a  ball  from  a  musket.  A  word  that  hits  and  makes  one  tingle." 

"Then  try  coxcomb." 

"No,  I  can't  get  my  tongue  properly  round  it.  'Tis  cumber- 
some, awkward,  clumsy ;  "  'twould  have  no  effect.  'T would 
glance  off  him  like  water  from  a  duck's  back." 

"Then  try  ass — fine  word  ass!"  I  cried  with  sudden  in- 
spiration. 

"  Pish  !  Twill  not  do  at  all,  my  lad.     That  would  be  flattery." 

"Then,  mistress,  I'm  afraid  I  cannot  help  you." 

"  I'm  afraid  so,  too,  you  witless  wight.  But  methinks  the 
fellow  is  beyond  all  remedy.  I've  tried  my  best  to  hurt  his 
feelings,  but  he  hath  the  hide  of  a  rhinoceros.  And  guess  what 
he  says.  The  cunning  rogue  declares  that  a  girl  of  my  spirit 
ought  to  take  a  soldier  for  a  husband  (my  gentleman  is  him- 
self a  soldier).  However,  I  told  him  I  meant  to  do  better  than 
that,  because  if  1  had  one  at  all  I  would  have  a  great  swords- 
man. That  touched  the  boastful  French  soul  of  him.  He 
began  to  brag  in  the  most  alarming  manner.  Swore  he  could 
give  odds  to  the  best  man  in  England ;  declared  again  and 
again  that  he  was  the  prettiest  swordsman  in  France,  and  that 
he'd  slit  the  skin  of  any  man  I'd  a  mind  to  bring  forward." 

There  and  then  the  fine-spirited  maid  looked  at  me  in  a  way 
there  was  no  mistaking.  Instantly  I  was  fired  by  that  eloquent 
countenance. 

"  He  said  that,  did  he  !  Sooth  !  I'll  show  the  frog-eater  that 
we  grow  men  this  side  the  water  that  can  tickle  his  heart !  I'll 
prove  that  an  English  sword  can  cut  him,  if  an  English  tongue 
cannot." 

"  Nay,  nay,  lad,"  interposed  the  owner  of  the  latter  weapon, 
quite  as  warm  as  ever  I  was,  "  thou'rt  wrong  about  the  tongue. 
'Tis  half  French — more's  the  pity." 

"  I've  a  long  score  to  settle  with  Monsieur  Widemouth,"  said 
I,  fairly  thirsting  for  a  fight,  "and  I'll  settle  it  on  his  body." 

In  my  youth,  kinsmen,  even  my  enemies  ne'er  accused  me  of 
false  modesty. 

"  Then  you  mean  to  fight,  sir  ?  " 

"  Mean  to  fight  ?  What  a  question.  If  thou  wert  Ned  Arm- 
strong, and  a  beggarly  Frenchman  talked  to  Dorothy  Marvin 
like  that,  what  wouldst  thou  do  ?  " 

"  Faith  !  "  she  said,  and  her  eyes  were  very  big  and  bright 
and  splendid,  "I'd  meet  Monsieur  Raoul  some  fine  morning  ns 
he  came  from  the  manor,  where  he'd  been  pestering  his  cousin, 
who  ne'er  did  him  any  harm,  and  I'd  box  Monsieur  Raoul's 


BE  A  TI  PA  CIFICI !  2  47 

ears,  and  ask  him  what  he  meant  by  his  words  and  his  conduct. 
And  then,  if  he'd  a  mind  to  fight  (Sir  Nicholas  tells  me  the 
French  are  the  willingest  nation  in  Europe  in  the  matter  of 
a  duello),  I'd  off  with  my  doublet,  and  ere  he  could  make  three 
ripostes  I'd  allow  him  the  benefit  of  that  lovely  little  inner  twist 
of  the  wrist  "  (the  trick  of  which  Dorothy  hath  taught  me  so 
often),  "curl  my  blade  past  his,  and  pink  him  just  here."  She 
indicated  the  centre  of  her  breast.  "  If  thou  art  very  careful 
of  the  lungs,  Ned,  'tis  not  a  fatal  spot  in  a  man." 

"  And. that's  precisely  what  I  will  do." 

"  There's  mettle  in  the  lad,"  she  said,  with  that  archly  crit- 
ical air  of  hers,  then  gazed  at  me  in  admiration  ;  "  but  there," 
she  added  coolly,  "  you  needn't  blush,  sir,  because  I've  said  so. 
Blushes  don't  sit  well  on  a  man ;  besides,  they  look  suspi- 
ciously like  vanity." 

"  Will  your  cousin  come  again  in  the  morning,  dearest?" 

At  that  she.  discarded  banter,  and  seriously  asked — 

"  But  you  are  not  in  earnest,  Ned  ? " 

"You'll  see,"  said  I. 

"  'Twas  only  my  jesting,"  she  said,  uneasily. 

"  Then  the  Frenchman  did  not  talk  like  that?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  he  did." 

"  Then  we'll  try  to  discover  who's  the  better  of  the  two." 

Hereat  she  looked  unmistakably  apprehensive. 

"  Ned,"  she  said  nervously,  "  if  you  venture  forth  you  will 
court  great  danger." 

"  Not  at  all,"  said  I  doggedly.  I  had  already  made  my  mind 
up  on  the  matter,  and  felt  genuinely  disappointed  at  her  altered 
tone.  "We  shall  meet  in  a  secluded  spot  ;  and  I'll  take  due 
precaution  lest  I  be  hurt."  W7hen  that  was  said  she  grew  visibly 
paler.  "  But  there  is  not  the  smallest  ground  for  fear,"  I  hast- 
ened to  assure  her.  "  You  can  depend  on  me  to  keep  my 
skin  entire." 

"  But  'tis  a  foolhardy  business." 

"  Not  so ;  there  really  is  no  danger.  Besides,  I'm  sick  of 
being  cooped  up  in  this  dreary  hole.  Now  do  be  kind  and  let 
me  venture." 

"  Oh,  if  you  put  it  that  way " 

"  And  if  I  stop  here  and  swallow  the  insult,  I  should  show 
myself  unworthy  of  you,  Dorothy,"  I  added,  to  press  the  first 
advantage. 

"  Chut  !  "  she  shot  back  sharply,  "  that  is  what  had  better 
not  been  said." 

"  'Twill  not  matter,"  quoth  I  obstinately,  because  my  purpose 


248  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

grew  stronger  than  ever  upon  me.  "  I  mean  to  transact  the 
business  with  that  Frenchman.  It  can  easily  be  d.one." 

Upon  this,  seeing  how  defiant  was  my  demeanor,  she  began 
to  coax  me  ;  and  her  coaxing  any  man  must  have  found  nearly 
irresistible. 

"  My  dearest  lad,"  she  said,  "  I  dare  not  let  you  go." 

"What!"  I  exclaimed,  "this  from  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin's 
daughter  ?  " 

'Twas  a  telling  stroke.  She  grew  confused  in.  speech  and 
manner,  and  flushed  exceeding  red. 

"  Yes,"  she  answered  indistinctly,  and  I  knew  she  hated  herself 
for  what  she  said,  "  I  always  did  admit  that  I  shamed  my  father. 
I'm  not  fit  to  be  child  of  his.  At  bottom  I'm  a  coward,  a  chicken- 
hearted  coward.  My  lad,  I  cannot  bear  that  you  should  risk 
your  life  when  there  is  no  reason  for  so  doing." 

"  But  there  is  little  risk,  and  many  reasons." 

She  shook  her  head,  looked  wistfully  at  me,  and  cried  with 
a  sudden  burst  of  fervor,  "  Oh,  my  lad,  I  love  you." 

"  Love  !  "  quoth  I ;  "  did  I  hear  that  word  ?  "  and  I  curled  a 
scornful  lip,  and  made  myself  a  pretty  hypocrite.  "Mistress 
Marvin  says  love  is  airy  nonsense."  To  my  shame,  be  it  known, 
I  enjoyed  that  retort  immensely. 

"  Did  I  say  that,  Ned  ?  " 

"  Ay,  that  you  did,"  said  I,  and  I'm  afraid  my  visage  was 
triumphant. 

"  Then  I'm  sorry  I  said  it,"  she  said,  uncommonly  penitent. 

"  At  the  time,  dearest,  I  was  equally  as  sorry  myself,  but  I'll 
confess  I  feel  quite  glad  now." 

"  Ned,  thou  hard  villain,  thou  art  teasing  me  !  Desist,  or  I 
hit  thee ! " 

I  did  desist,  because  she  had  a  knack  of  keeping  promises. 
Then  she  began  again  to  coax  me  in  deadly  earnest.  Her  coaxing 
method  I'll  make  bold  to  say  was  positively  unsurpassable.  She 
had  the  supreme  gift  of  looking  unconsciously  innocent  at  a 
moment's  notice ;  and  could  also  adopt  a  most  admirable  sim- 
plicity of  voice,  manner,  and  gesture,  that  lulled  her  unsuspect- 
ing opponent  into  a  false  security.  So  while  she  was  conjuring 
me  in  most  beseeching  accents,  and  whilst  I  (as  I  thought  very 
astutely)  was  attacking  the  weak  spot  in  her  armor,  she  was 
trying  stratagem.  The  weak  spot  was  her  father.  With  quite 
remarkable  address  I  took  advantage  of  it.  I  kept  reminding 
her  that  she  was  her  father's  daughter,  and  so  much  was  she 
bound  up  in  that  old  wretch,  and  so  great  was  her  admiration 
of  his  character,  that  because  of  it,  she  mortified  her  woman's 


BE  ATI  PACIFICI! 


249 


tenderness,  and  disciplined  the  femininity  of  her  nature.  And  to 
such  an  extent  did  I  play  upon  this  vulnerable  spot,  that  to 
judge  by  her  tone,  her  talk,  and  behavior,  it  certainly  looked 
as  though  she  was  on  the  point  of  submitting  to  my  wishes. 
But,  I  repeat,  she  was  employing  strategy. 

Now,  as  I  have  said,  the  swords  lay  between  us,  and  we  two 
were  in  a  sitting  posture.  And  the  diplomatic  maid,  seeing  that 
her  skilful  tongue  was  of  no  avail,  had  recourse  to  her  equally 
skilful  fingers.  Whilst  she  held  me  in  earnest  talk  anent  the 
danger  to  my  precious  skin,  she  stealthily,  and  wholly  unperceived 
by  me,  got  one  hand  round  the  swords,  and  her  face  the  while 
was  the  very  emblem  of  simplicity  and  innocence. 

"  Ned,"  she  drawled  softly,  slowly,  plaintively,  and  all  the  time 
did  fix  me  with  her  eyes  that  were  most  pathetically  wistful,  "  I 
am  very,  very  grieved — and — very — very — hurt — to  hear  that 
thou  hast  decided  upon  this  course  without  deigning  to  take  heed 
of  me — "  and  she  raised  her  other  hand  (as  I  thought  to  whisk 
a  sorrowful  tear  from  her  eyelid).  But  ,no,  she  did  nothing  of 
the  kind.  She  gave  me  a  vigorous  push,  which  overbalanced 
me  and  sent  me  sprawling  on  my  back. 

I  gathered  myself  up  as  quickly  as  I  could,  only  to  find  that 
Mistress  Dorothy  and  the  swords  were  missing.  I  scrambled 
after  them  through  the  gap,  but  this  precipitance  only  served  to 
disprove  a  fallacy.  We  men  always  hold  that  girls  cannot  run, 
but,  by  my  soul,  kinsmen  !  that  rule  did  never  apply  to  this  one. 
With  one  hand  clutching  the  swords,  and  t'other  her  skirts,  she 
fled  like  a  deer,  and  had  gained  the  open  ere  I  could  overtake 
her. 

I  retired,  angry,  amused,  crestfallen,  and  delighted.  Once 
more  she  had  shown  me  how  meagre  mine  own  wits  were  in 
comparison  with  hers  ;  and  how  impossible  'twas  for  me  to  hold 
her  for  long  at  a  disadvantage.  However,  three  hours  later, 
she  returned,  imperious,  but  swordless. 

"  The  lad  is  a  grand  runner,"  she  began,  in  a  kind  of  mock- 
ing song ;  "  a  grand  talker,  a  grand  fighter,  and  a  grand  boaster. 
But  he's  young — very  young — and  hath  no  more  than  his  share 
of  ingenuity.  But,  young  man  " — here  her  tone  and  demeanor 
became  of  a  sudden  singularly  patronizing, — "  I  have  considered 
your  case,  and  have  asked  his  worship's  opinion  of  Perry  Wil- 
mot.  No  matter  what  the  state  of  his  temper  may  be,  Sir 
Nicholas  will  always  discuss  one  topic — that  topic  is  swords- 
manship. Here  is  what  the  old  gentleman  said,  '  Peregrine 
Wilmot  is  the  wickedest  devil,  and  the  skilfullest,  pluckiest, 
hardiest,  and  fiercest  fighter  at  the  present  moment  in  England, 


250  MIS  TRESS  DOR  OTH  Y  MA  R  VL  \ ' 

and  the  man  that  can  whip  him,  sober  or  drunk,  may  cock  his 
hat  in  the  eyes  of  Europe.'  So  cock  it,  friend  Quickfoot !  " 

Forthwith  the  saucy  one  made  a  grab  at  Ned  Armstrong's 
hat,  and  rakishly  cocked  it  over  that  gentleman's  eye. 

"  Sooth,"  she  exclaimed,  mightily  enjoying  her  own  impudent 
handiwork,  "  if  Mistress  Dorothy  Marvin,  of  Kelston  Manor, 
in  the  county  of  Somerset  will  but  condescend  to  take  this  lad 
in  hand,  and  bestow  a  few  pains  on  his  education,  she'll  make 
a  man  of  him  yet !  Well,  boy,  as  I've  said,  I  have  considered 
your  case.  I  should  like  young  Raoul  to  get  a  thrashing  from 
my  man — 'twill  do  him  good.  Therefore  I'll  allow  my  man  to 
fight  him  on  four  conditions." 

"  Bravo  !  "  cried  I,  dancing  ten  steps  of  a  corranto. 

"  Firstly,  as  the  parsons  say,"  the  madcap  continued,  "  Ned 
Armstrong  is  to  fully  understand  that  he  is  only  going  to  fight 
because  Mistress  Dorothy  Marvin  lends  her  countenance  to  the 
scheme,  and  because  she  is  kind  enough  to  allow  him  to  do  so. 
She  hath  heard  a  great  deal  lately  from  Ned  Armstrong's  lips 
about  '  I'm  going  to  do  this  ;  I'm  going  to  do  that;  I'm  going 
to  do  just  as  I  choose,  whether  Dorothy  says  I  can  or  I  can't.' 
Now,  I  want  you  to  appreciate,  my  fine-feathered  young  bird, 
that  'tis  only  by  Dorothy's  express  permission  .that  you  are 
going  to  do  anything  at  all.  See  ?  " 

'Deed,  kinsmen,  I  did  see  !  I  saw  that  Mistress  Impudence 
meant  to  exact  a  very  high  price  for  the  privilege.  Still,  to 
this  condition  I  assented  humbly. 

"  Secondly,  that  you  do  not  kill  my  cousin." 

"Certainly,"  said  I;  and  added  to  myself,  "come,  that  is 
better ! " 

"  Thirdly,  that  you  do  not  boast  should  you  happen  to  win." 

"  Boasting  is  not  a  habit  of  mine,"  said  1  stoutly. 

At  that  she  puckered  her  brows  in  imitation  of  an  angry 
pedagogue,  lifted  her  finger,  and  sternly  said — 

"  Boy,  be  careful  !  How  dare  you  contradict  me  ?  I  say  you 
do,  sir.  But  you  do  it  in  a  stealthy  way.  You  have  an  atro- 
cious trick  of  blushing  when  your  ears  are  tickled  with  praise. 
As  I've  said,  it  doesn't  look  well  in  a  man.  It  shows  a  sus- 
ceptible heart,  a  heart  that  will  batten  on  flattery." 

"That  I  will  try  to  amend,"  said  I,  still  very  meek.  Be  it 
known,  kinsmen,  I  had  not  yet  secured  that  sword. 

"  Fourthly,  that  you  no  longer  treat  me  as  though  I  were  a 
goddess." 

"  But.  dearest,  to  me  you  are  a  goddess.  You  are  so  much 
better  than  1." 


BE  A  TI  PA  CIFICI !  251 

"  Wrong — quite  wrong  !  How  many  more  times  must  I  tell 
you  that  I  am  your  comrade  ?  There  are  no  grades  among  com- 
rades ;  all  comrades  are  on  an  equality.  I  hate  to  see  you  so 
confoundedly  humble  !  " 

"  Dorothy,  I  owe  you  so  much." 

"Oh!  so  you  think  you  can  pay  your  debts  with  humility. 
Cheap  coin,  my  lad,  cheap  coin !  Not  for  Dorothy  Marvin, 
thank  you.  You  had  better  remember  that.  Besides,  if  I 
could  fight  like  you  can,  the  woman's  not  made  that  I'd  let  say 
the  tenth  part  to  me  that  I  do  to  you,  sir." 

"  But  I  must  be  polite  to  a  lady." 

"I'm  a  lady?" 

"  'Pon  my  soul  !    I  shall  ne'er  see  a  finer  !  " 

"  Call  me  that  once  more,  Ned  Armstrong,  and,  on  my  life,  I'll 
betray  you  at  once  to  King  James.  '  Ladies,'  says  Sir  Nicholas 
(and  he  hath  been  seventy-two  years  on  the  earth),  'have  white 
hands,  white  skins,  and  white  livers ;  have  so  much  water  in 
their  heads  that  it  doth  ooze  out  at  their  eyes ;  have  to  powder 
their  faces  to  hide  their  follies  ;  and  have  to  squeeze  their 
bodies  to  keep  their  sins  within  a  reasonable  compass.' " 

"  Mistress,  you  are  a  traitress  to  your  sex." 

"  Not  I.  The  sex  is  a  traitress  to  itself.  Here  am  I,  a 
woman.  I'd  be  very  brave  if  I  could,  but  I  can't." 

"  Not  brave  ?  Then  what,  in  the  name  of  pluck  !  doth  go  by 
the  name  of  bravery?" 

"  Why,  I  would  call  bravery  the  splendid  trait  of  being  able 
to  do  a  fine  deed  as  easily  as  eating  your  dinner,  like  my  old 
dad  can.  Whene'er  I  do  aught  above  the  common  I  have  to  fight 
against  my  inner  self  till  it  is  accomplished." 

"  But  that  is  what  I  should  call  the  very  highest  kind  of 
courage." 

"  Oh,  is  it  ?  "  And  her  tone  betrayed  that  she  was  neither 
convinced  nor  satisfied.  "  But  where  would  I  be  in  time  of 
war  ?  Tell  me  that.  Where  would  I  be  in  a  beleaguered  city  ? 
When  besiegers  put  a  garrison  to  the  sword  they  spare  the 
women  and  children.  And  I  should  be  spared  scathless 
among  'em,  whilst  my  old  father,  nearly  four  times  my  age, 
would,  in  the  mean  time,  have  spilt  his  last  drop  of  blood,  and 
have  died  by  the  sword,  rather  than  be  spared  by  the  foe. 
Talk  about  betraying  the  sex  !  'Tis  already  betrayed,  when  it  is 
classed  with  babes  and  sucklings  as  being  too  contemptible  to 
have  good  powder  and  shot  and  steel  spent  upon  it !  " 

"  Oh,  well,  well !  "  I  exclaimed,  laughingly,  *'  I  consent,  most 
lovely  Amazon.  Ne'er  again  will  I  treat  you  as  a  goddess,  nor 


M7S  TRESS  DORO  TH  \ '  MA  R I  'IX. 

insult  you  by  the  title  '  lady.'  You  shall  be  my  brother-in-arms. 
my  comrade.  Though,  should  you  ever  wish  to  be  considered 
as  a  la —  that  is,  I  should  have  said,  as  a  person  that  isn't  a 
male.  I  shall  be  quite  as  willing  to  oblige  you,  mistress." 

"Good  lad  !  "  she  said,  though  I  would  net  like  to  be  placed 
upon  my  oath  to  declare  that  1  did  not  see  mockery  in  her  eyes, 
as  she  went  and  fetched  the  sword,  which  it  appeared  she  had 
left  just  outside  the  enclosure.  '•  Ned,"  she  said,  as  she  returned 
with  the  weapon,  "  I  hope  thou  dost  not  think  nut  over-bold  ?" 

".Over-bold  for  a  maid  in  war,  and  over-modest  for  a  maid 
in  love,"  said  I. 

"  And  now,  young  man,"  quoth  she,  and  her  tone  was  very 
business-like,  "thou  art  willing  to  be  my  cavaliero,  my  true 
knight,  my  faithful  servant  ?" 

'•  Your  very  faithful  servant,  mistress  !  " 

"  Then  stand  forth,  in  a  soldierly  manner,  that  I  may  see 
whether  thou  art  worthy  of  my  confidence." 

I  stood  before  her,  rigid  as  an  arrow,  with  head  back  and 
chest  out.  She  looked  me  over  in  her  prettiest  fashion,  with 
mock  gravity  and  a  critic's  eye. 

"  Well  set  up  and  sturdy.  A  comely  and  a  likely  lad,  with  a 
stout  heart  under  his  jacket." 

"Now  for  the  sword, "said  I. 

She  gave  me  the  one  she  held  in  her  hand. 

"  'Tis  the  very  best  in  the  whole  collection,  sir.  You  can 
rely  on  that — I  have  chosen  it,  myself,  and  I  know  a  good 
sword  when  I  see  one." 

"  Many  thanks,  mistress.  But  I  trust  you  will  not  deduct 
this  loan  from  my  wages." 

"  Your  wages,  sir  !     What  do  they  amount  to  ? " 

••  A  smile  and  a  kiss  from  thee  !  " 

"  You  rate  your  services  very  high,  lad." 

"Indeed?     And  I  must  have  the  payment  in  advance." 

"  You  will  not  get  it.  Earn  it  first,  and  claim  it  afterwards. 
I  am  told  that  is  the  law  of  commerce." 

"  But  not  of  love  and  war." 

"  What  know  you  of  them  ?  You  have  been  in  the  one  but 
once,  and  never  in  the  other." 

"  Your  tongue  is  wondrous  sly,  Dorothy." 

"  And  your  chin  is  wondrous  dirty,  Ned.  It  sadly  lacks  a 
razor.  And  it  shall  surely  have  one,  for  no  knight  o'  mine 
shall  sally  forth  with  a  whole  week's  down  upon  his  jaw." 

Ere  I  could  reply  to  this  saucy  threat,  the  audacious  maid  had 
left  me  for  the  night.  She  had  left  me  alone,  with  my  hopes, 


A  KA  77  PA  CIFICI !  2  5 .3 

my  schemes,  and  my  happiness.  This  last  emotion  had  been 
debarred  for  many  months  ;  but  now  the  stream  of  it  had  begun 
to  flow  suddenly  and  swiftly.  You  are  at  liberty  to  blame  my 
folly,  kinsmen,  as  much  as  ye  feel  it  merits  ;  but  'twas  delicious 
folly. 

There  may  be  folks  who  read  their  Bibles  as  night  by  night 
they  sip  their  punch,  and  are  ultimately  lulled  to  sleep  by  a 
snow-white  pillow  and  a  snow-white  conscience,  who,  on  moral 
grounds,  may  set  a  hard  name  to  my  presumption.  Yet  a  man, 
once  down,  must  he  ever  be  kept  down  ?  He  that  hath  erred, 
must  he  be  calumniated  for  all  time  ? 

A  pitying  woman  had  solved  this  problem  for  herself ;  and  I 
was  but  too  eager  to  accept  her  solution  as  a  balm  for  many 
wounds.  Perhaps  we  were  both  too  young  to  answer  it.  Yet 
we  had  answered  it  in  defiance  of  the  world,  and  most  likely  in 
defiance  of  our  inmost  souls  as  well. 

However,  I  am  straying  from  the  narrative  to  discuss  the 
merits  of  a  hearthstone  theory.  Let  it  suffice  that  we  who  had 
gone  through  the  fire,  and  had  seen  each  other  suffer,  had, 
rightly  or  wrongly,  unriddled  it  according  to  our  lights.  And, 
that  being  so,  I  passed  a  sleepless  night,  not  being  accustomed 
to  such  happiness.  I  could  not  grasp  my  marvellous  fortune 
all  at  once  ;  it  seemed  so  airy  and  so  dreamlike. 

At  daybreak  in  the  morning  I  left  my  retreat  and  partook  of 
a  dip  in  the  stream.  Upon  returning  with  clean  hands  and 
face,  I  found  Dorothy  already  in  my  bower.  She  had  brought 
more  food,  a  razor,  and  a  pot  of  lather;  and  insisted  on  shav- 
ing me  herself.  Forsooth,  she  was  very  skilful  in  the  art,  by 
virtue  of  much  practice  with  her  father.  Such  was  the  deftness 
of  her  handling,  that  within  ten  minutes  she  had  wrought  a  new 
creature  of  me  altogether.  But  the  way  she  twisted  my  poor 
jaw  about ;  the  way  she  admonished  me  to  be  particularly 
careful  in  not  moving  my  face  the  hundredth  of  an  inch,  be- 
cause, if  I  did,  "  the  razor  might  slip,  and  cut  those  beautiful 
blue  veins  in  the  neck,  and  thereby  save  the  men  of  law  the 
trouble  ;  "  the  artistic  way  she  pursed  her  lips  as  she  delicately 
came  round  the  chin-curve  ;  the  way  she  stopped  suddenly  in 
the  middle  of  the  feat  and  vowed,  as  I  had  recklessly  twitched 
one  eyelid,  "  that  sooner  than  run  the  risk  of  having  a  fellow- 
creature's  death  upon  her  conscience,  she  would  take  away  the 
razor,  and,  by  doing  so,  would  leave  me  in  the  ridiculous  post- 
ure of  being  one-half  shaven  and  one-half  bearded  ;  "  and  the 
way  I  had  to  coax  her  to  complete  the  task,  with  my  face  half 
lathered  as  I  did  so,  made  me  much  regret  her  condescension. 
17 


254  -  W-S' TXKSS  DORO TH Y  MA R  VIN. 

The  business  was  to  be  transacted  that  morning.  Dorothy 
told  me  two  things  of  greatest  import,  namely,  that  her  cousin 
was  expected  at  the  manor  during  the  forenoon,  and  also  that 
he  could  speak  and  understand  the  English  tongue  with  ease. 

The  maid  showed  me  a  place  in  the  copse  where  I  might 
overlook  the  gates,  and  could  thus  see  when  the  count  left  the 
house.  One  moment  she  was  afraid  of  what  I  was  on  the  point 
of  encompassing,  and  full  of  fears  and  regrets,  and  the  other 
made  jokes  at  the  expense  of  the  pair  of  us.  And  so  long  did 
we  talk  together,  that  in  the  end  my  companion  forewent  her 
usual  ride  before  breakfast. 

When  at  last  she  did  leave  me  alone  to  carry  out  my  designs 
upon  the  Frenchman's  person,  I  made  a  hearty  meal ;  then 
betook  myself  to  the  part  of  the  spinney  which  commanded  a 
sight  of  the  entrance  gates.  For  an  hour  I  watched  in  vain  ; 
but  after  that  the  Frenchman  came  along  and  walked  his  horse 
up  to  the  house.  Having  seen  him  move  out  of  sight  round 
the  bend  among  the  trees,  I  lay  down  in  the  thicket  awaiting 
his  return,  and  was  blissfully  content  to  do  so.  Without  any 
possible  doubt  1  should  beat  that  frenchman.  I  was  not 
blessed  with  more  than  my  share  of  wits  at  ordinary  times ; 
but  now  Cupid  had  got  among  them,  the  little  god  had  made 
pitiable  havoc. 

All  too  soon  M.  de  Crois  came  back;  for  he  disturbed  and 
scattered  certain  delicious  day-dreams  in  which  I  took  indul- 
gence. As  he  was  riding  his  horse  at  a  foot-pace,  I  allowed 
him  to  get  some  few  yards  ahead,  and  then  silently  sprang  out 
after  him,  that  he  might  not  see  whence  I  came.  My  rival  was 
pensive  ;  I  remarked  his  face  was  groundwards  and  that  his 
horse's  motion  accorded  well  with  a  heavy  mood.  I  followed 
behind  at  an  easy  distance,  till  we  had  arrived  at  a  spot  midway 
betwixt  the  gates  and  the  highway;  whereupon  I  strode  up  with 
boldness,  and  soon  had  my  face  hard  by  his  saddle. 

He  stopped  his  animal  altogether  at  sight  of  me,  and,  with  a 
gesture  of  surprise,  inquired  my  pleasure. 

"  You  a,re  the  Count  de  Crois,  I  hear,  sir,"  I  began,  and  my 
tone  bore  a  studied  coldness.  "  And,  sir,  I  also  hear  a  whisper 
that  you  have  some  swordsmanship." 

At  that  he  bowed  and  twitched  his  shoulders  in  the  conti- 
nental fashion. 

"  Monsieur  flatters  me."  He  used  sound  English,  though 
'twas  encumbered  by  the  buzz  of  his  foreign  accent. 

"I  believe,  sir,"  said  I,  colder  than  ever,  "you  have  the 
acquaintance  of  Mistress  Dorothy  Marvin." 


BE  ATI  PA  CIFICI !  255 

"  I  hold  that  honor." 

In  spite  of  myself,  I  was  sensibly  drawn  towards  him  out  of 
sheer  sympathy,  because  at  the  first  mention  of  that  name  his 
eyes  lighted  in  the  most  wonderful  manner. 

"  Sir,  I  share  that  honor  with  you." 

"  Ah  !  "  he  cried,  and  his  face  fell  suddenly  dark. 

"Count,"  said  I  sardonically,  "  I  have  also  heard  a  whisper 
that  you  mouthed  some  big  words  in  the  presence  of  that  lady, 
regarding  the  way  you  would  serve  us  English  swordsmen." 

Ostentatiously  I  laid  a  hand  upon  the  sword-hilt  that  was 
at  my  side.  That  which  the  Frenchman  did  next  will  forever 
command  my  admiration.  He  simply  hissed  a  nimble  word, 
slipped  off  his  horse,  feverishly  seized  my  hand,  and  cried 
at  the  same  instant,  "  Monsieur,  monsieur,  we  are  choicely 
met !  " 

"  Never  a  doubt,"  said  I.  "  For  the  honor  of  our  respective 
nations  we  must  have  a  little  passado — there's  room  here  on 
the  grass." 

"  One  moment,  monsieur!  Hath  my  lovely,  my  angelic,  my 
adorable  cousin  had  an  intimation  of  your  enterprise  ?" 

I  smiled  at  him,  not  coldly  either.  The  man  would  have 
thawed  an  iceberg. 

"Par  Dieu,  she  is  divine!"  And  he  shook  his  maggoty 
French  head  so  lustily,  and  lingered  so  long  on  the  ".See  ees 
deevine,"  that  I  was  compelled  to  laugh  at  his  comicality.  At 
that  moment  I  had  but  one  regret ;  which  was  that  our  joint 
divinity  was  not  there  then  to  enjoy  his  words  and  actions. 

"  Sir  Count,  I  can  only  venture  to  meet  you  on  one  condition 
— which  is,  that  the  victor  shall  deposit  the  vanquished  in  a 
place  of  safety.  Somersetshire  roads,"  I  craftily  added,  to 
shift  all  signs  of  suspicion  'from  myself,  "are  not  the  place  for 
wounded  men.  There  are  enough  cut-throats  and  thievish 
knaves  at  large  in  this  county  as  would  suffice  to  man  His 
Majesty's  Fleet.  Therefore,  should  you  disable  me,  I  must  beg 
that  you  will  place  my  body  in  the  custody  of  Master  Peter 
Whipple,  at  the  sign  of  the  King's  Head,  Bridgwater." 

"  Willingly,"  he  assented.  "  And  on  mine  own  part,  the 
Green  Man,  at  Taunton,  is  whither  I  bide  at  present." 

This  bargain  struck,  my  opponent,  who  was  fascinatingly  rapid 
in  his  actions,  dived  a  finger  into  the  pocket  of  his  vest,  pro- 
duced a  gold  piece  (a  Louis  d'or,  I  think),  saying,  "  There  is  an 
advantage  in  the  sun  " — which  was  very  true — spun  the  coin  in 
the  air  and  called  on  me  to  cry.  The  cast  fell  against  me  ; 
whereby  my  enemy  had  choice  of  ground.  Albeit  he  deliber- 


256  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

ately  chose  to  face  the  sun.  This  was  a  piece  of  the  purest 
generosity. 

I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  hate  the  fellow,  and  also  to  punish 
him.  Now,  I  think  that  all  men  will  agree  with  me  that  he 
merited  a  punishment  richly  ;  yet  here  was  I  already  feeling  a 
grudging  tenderness  towards  him. 

The  horse  was  tethered  to  the  hedge.  Then  we  took  off  our 
coats  and  hats,  rolled  up  our  sleeves,  and  unsheathed  our 
swords.  It  was  a  scorching  day,  the  sun  was  in  the  zenith  of 
its  glory  ;  the  insects  flitted  lazily  by  ;  and  the  yellow  ears  were 
motionless  behind  the  hedges,  with  graceful  heads  bowed 
gently.  The  birds  trilled  sweet  discourse  in  the  heavens,  and 
hard  by,  to  my  left  hand,  the  hills  rose  up  above  the  fields  of 
wheat.  The  warm  flood  of  sunlight  revealed  the  wooded  combes 
on  the  Quantock  slopes  ;  thick  dark  patches  upon  their  surface  ; 
their  clustered  groves  of  beech  and  ash,  telling  of  shade  and 
shelter.  Higher  up  the  heights  reared  towards  the  sky,  and 
were  alive  with  a  mass  of  furze  and  yellow  gorze ;  whilst  here 
and  there  the  little  hill-streams,  both  swift  and  sluggish,  cut 
shimmering  lines  on  the  heathery  slopes.  Perhaps  we  were  a 
pair  of  fools ;  but  youth  is  prone  to  folly.  Had  we  had  more 
wisdom,  we  must  have  been  less  happy,  for  a  wise  man  hath 
very  rarely  a  spirit  of  content. 

My  opponent  was  truly  a  noble  fellow,  a  good  head  taller  than 
I,  lithe  and  graceful  of  body,  with  a  handsome,  open,  manly 
countenance.  To  see  his  wide  bright  eyes  was  to  know  that  a 
brave  heart  lurked  behind  them,  and  from  the  first  I  never 
doubted  that  I  must  fight  my  hardest,  if  I  was  to  claim  the 
victory.  Yet,  be  it  understood,  I  never  doubted  my  capacity 
to  gain  it. 

We  shook  hands,  crossed  swords,  and  fell  to.  I  gave  back 
a  step  as  I  felt  his  blade  for  the  first  time  ;  and  gave  back 
another  as  I  felt  it  for  the  second.  Ere  long  I  feared  that  I 
could  not  hope  to  win  ;  and  that  idea  roused  all  the  devil  in 
me.  But  to  what  purpose  ?  My  rival  was  calm,  unperturbed, 
and  smiling.  He  drove  me  back  with  swift,  firm,  neat  play  of 
weapon,  and  'twas  only  by  great  agility  of  body  that  a  catas- 
trophe was  averted.  This  man  was  a  master  of  the  art  offence  ; 
there  was  poetry  in  the  glance  of  his  gliding  blade  ;  as  swift  as 
light,  and  dazzling  as  the  sun.  His  play  was  delicate,  serene, 
enchanting;  and  he  had  a  wrist  of  steel  and  the  Hundred  Eyes 
of  Argus. 

As  for  me,  poor  fool !  I  was  but  a  toy  to  him.  I  tried  my 
rustic  artifices,  and  the  contemptuous  way  he  turned  them  off 


BEA  TI  P AC  I PICI! 


257 


made  my  heart  drop  like  lead  in  my  bosom.  May  I  ne'er  for- 
get the  smile  which  greeted  them.  A  baby  would  have  had  as 
much  chance  against  this  inspired  swordsman  as  Black  Ned  the 
undefeated.  I  knew  I  had  no  chance ;  and  he  knew  it  too,  so 
simply  laughed  to  himself  as  he  measured  my  ability,  and 
exhibited  all  his  own  splendid  art.  I  grew  sick  as  I  bethought 
what  this  affair  might  cost  me.  Better  a  thousand  times  have 
kept  out  of  it  altogether. 

With  reckless  fury  I  beset  him,  hoping  by  sheer  vigor  to 
beat  down  his  guard  ;  but  without  avail.  He  seemed  to  enjoy 
the  thing  as  a  jest.  More  than  once  a  sharp  thrust  would  have 
ended  the  matter,  yet  he  preferred  to  frisk  and  fondle  with  me. 
like  a  cat  does  with  a  mouse,  and  was  content  to  give  a  deftly 
pretty  riposte  now  and  then  in  return.  But  love  is  a  para- 
doxical power  ;  frequently  it  will  take  brains  away  from  one 
who  hath  them  to  lose,  and,  on  occasion,  may  even  bestow 
them  on  the  brainless. 

Certes,  'twas  so  in  this  case.  Love  gave  me  a  bright  idea. 
The  disdainful  Frenchman  was  toying  with  me,  and  was  show- 
ing off  his  own  great  art.  Methought  I  would  toy  with  him. 
And  this  was  the  execution  of  the  plan.  I  pretended  to  be 
quite  exhausted  (which  I  assuredly  was  not);  my  thrusts  grew 
more  feeble,  and  my  parrying  more  half-hearted,  yet  all  the 
while  I  took  care  to  have  my  vigilance  on  hand,  should  a  quick 
thrust  be  given  me.  Hereupon  my  opponent  grew  more  and 
more  careless,  as  he  thought  I  was  entirely  spent,  and  might 
be  despatched  any  minute.  He  expounded  his  accomplish- 
ments more  fully  than  ever,  whilst  I,  cunning  rogue,  gradually 
drew  him  from  his  defence.  He  was  making  vain  show  of 
some  beautiful  and  ornamental  trick  with  the  wrist,  when  I  saw 
my  longed-for  opportunity  had  come.  I  snapped  my  teeth  of 
a  sudden,  tightened  my  grip  of  the  hilt,  and  with  a  great 
gathering  of  every  little  bit  of  energy  that  was  left  me,  made  a 
powerful  lunge,  my  blade  dashed  past  his  unsuspecting  guard, 
and  bit  straight  through  his  shoulder. 

The  poor  lad  groaned.  The  blood  spurted  on  to  his  white 
shirt  as  he  dropped  his  sword,  and  reeled  and  fell  backwards 
like  one  dead.  He  lay  prone  and  senseless  on  the  grass,  his 
white  face  bathed  in  sunlight,  and  his  shirt  soaked  with  blood. 
With  many  a  misgiving,  I  went  down  on  my  knees  beside  him, 
and  forced  strong  water  betwixt  his  teeth. 


258  MIS  TRESS  D  ORO  TJJ  Y  MA  R  V1N. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

A    RACE     FOR    LIFE. 

To  my  relief  the  count  came  somewhat  to  himself  ere  very  long, 
yet  so  helpless  was  he  that  I  pitied  him.  'Tis  easy  to  pity  the 
vanquished  when  you  are  yourself  the  victor. 

Now  befell  a  most  perilous  and  difficult  part  of  the  matter. 
According  to  the  agreement  between  us,  I  must  see  him  in  a 
safe  place  ;  and  that  place  was  the  hostel  of  the  Green  Man, 
Taunton.  Having  in  a  measure  revived  him,  and  having 
staunched  the  bleeding  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  I  buttoned 
his  coat  loosely  over  his  shoulders,  and  donned  mine  own. 
'Twas  no  light  task  to  place  the  lad  on  his  horse's  back,  whilst 
to  add  to  my  difficulties  I  had  to  climb  up  behind  so  that  I 
might  support  him  with  my  arms  about  his  waist.  I  deemed 
this  the  readiest  mode  of  reaching  a  place  of  safety. 

It  was  evident,  from  the  outset,  that  my  mission  was  fraught 
with  the  greatest  danger ;  not  the  least  part  of  it  being  that  the 
Green  Man  was  the  headquarters  of  the  King's  men.  \Yith- 
out  delay  I  set  off,  anxious  to  get  the  ticklish  feat  performed. 
The  animal  bore  its  double  burthen  in  a  highly  creditable 
manner.  In  an  hour  Taunton  came  into  sight ;  the  count  by 
that  time  being  weak,  and  very  much  spent  through  loss  of 
blood,  the  pain  of  his  wound,  and  the  jogging  of  the  horse. 
Fortunately  the  Green  Man  stood  scarce  two  hundred  yards 
within  the  town,  yet,  though  we  had  only  to  traverse  a  single 
street,  and  had  then  to  turn  into  a  narrow  lane,  our  passage 
thence  drew  the  attention  of  the  townsfolk  towards  us,  and  I 
confess  my  heart  came  in  my  mouth  when  I  saw  the  stares  and 
gestures  of  the  onlookers,  which  plainly  told  me  that  they 
recognized  their  visitor. 

Doubtless  the  mild  folk  were  pretty  considerably  astonished 
to  see  Black  Ned  parading  the  streets  in  broad  daylight,  when 
so  great  a  price  had  been  set  upon  his  head.  Through  excess 
of  curiosity,  a  small  crowd  collected  and  began  to  follow  at  my 
heels,  though  'twas  not  their  purpose  to  offer  molestation,  for 
the  commonalty  were  well  affected  towards  me  at  this  time. 
Seeing  how  precarious  was  my  position,  I  hastened  to  dispose 
of  the  Frenchman,  so  that  I  might  invoke  the  aid  of  my  heels, 
and  leave  the  town  behind  as  speedily  as  possible.  As  soon 


A  RACE  FOR  LIFE. 


259 


as  I  d'rew  rein  before  the  door  of  the  tavern  I  alighted,  and 
calling  to  a  lusty  fellow  close  by  to  assist  me,  without  more 
ado  we  bore  the  injured  man  head  and  heels  into  the  hostelry. 
The  landlord  came  bustling  into  the  passage  to  meet  us. 

"  Oho  !  "  said  he,  "  what  have  you  there  ?  " 

"  One  of  your  customers  hath  had  a  sword  thrust,"  I  an- 
swered in  a  thick,  disguised  voice,  my  head  bent  low  over  the 
wounded  man. 

"  Then  bear  him  upstairs  to  bed." 

We  walked  past  him  and  up  the  staircase  opposite.  Just 
then  a  room  door  opened  to  one  side  of  the  passage,  and 
a  voice  called  out,  "  Hullo,  Master  Tonk,  what  hath  now 
befell  ?  " 

That  voice  sent  cold  blood  thro'  my  veins,  and  set  mine  ears 
a-singing,  for  it  belonged  to  Captain  Joshua  Pringle.  Neither 
he  nor  the  landlord  had  yet  recognized  me,  therefore  I  kept 
straight  on  up  the  stairs,  yet  devoutly  wished  the  while  that  I 
was  well  out  of  my  predicament.  We  'laid  him  on  the  bed  of 
the  first  room  we  came  to.  Having  done  this,  I  immediately 
left  the  apartment  to  descend  the  stairs ;  but,  by  the  direst  of 
misfortunes,  the  landlord,  Captain  Pringle,  and  half  a  dozen 
soldiers  were  leisurely  ascending  at  that  instant.  The  captain 
stared  me  full  in  th«  face. 

"  Thunder  of  God  !  "  he  bawled. 

There  was  no  time  for  politeness  and  courtesy,  so  I  bounded 
downstairs  three  steps  at  a  stride,  banged  one  fist  into  the 
bloated  face  of  the  little  captain,  the  other  into  that  of  the  be- 
wildered landlord  ;  butted  my  head  into  the  stomach  of  an  in- 
offensive servant  of  the  King,  and  thus  made  a  passage  through 
them.  I  rushed  to  the  door,  where  the  Frenchman's  horse 
stood  passive  in  the  midst  of  an  inquisitive  multitude.  In  a 
trice  I  was  in  the  saddle,  and  riding  away  for  precarious  life. 
And  none  too  soon.  Already  my  pursuers  were  giving  their 
lungs  rare  exercise. 

I  could  hear  Master  Pringle  bellowing,  "  Stop  him,  in  the 
King's  name  !  "  "  Saddle  the  horses,  men,  and  be  thundering 
smart !  "  "A  guinea  for  a  loaded  pistol !  "  "  Hi,  you  fellow 
there,  down  him  ! — down  him,  I  say!  " 

I  never  once  looked  back,  but  fled  swiftly  out  of  the  town, 
and  none  sought  to  bar  my  progress.  I  galloped  over  the 
bridge,  and  directly  the  houses  and  the  river  were  at  my  back, 
a  white,  rugged,  dusty  road  confronted  me,  and  a  stiff  eight 
miles  burst  to  Bridgwater. 

Presently  I  looked  round  to  learn  how  I  fared.     To  my  ex- 


260  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR VIN. 

ceeding  perturbation  I  beheld  a  cloud  of  dust  some  distance 
down  the  roadway.  I  knew  it  was  my  pursuers,  and  that  delay 
would  mean  my  life.  Their  own  animals  were  fresher  than 
mine,  but  luckily  I  had  a  good  start.  I  had  no  fixed  plan  of 
baffling  them ;  yet  had  but  two  chances  of  escape.  Either  I 
must  take  to  the  hills  and  abandon  the  horse,  as  I  was  hard  by 
them  ;  or  else  trust  to  good  fortune  and  Peter  Whipple  and 
make  for  Bridgwater.  Mayhap  I  was  ill-advised,  but  I  chose 
the  latter  alternative  ;  for  Master  Whipple  was  without  peer  in 
my  eyes  at  that  time,  and  methought  if  his  wits  could  not  help 
me,  mine  own  would  be  assuredly  of  no  avail.  'Twas  a  stern 
chase  ;  the  scorching  sun  knew  no  mercy  for  pursuers  or  pur- 
sued, the  hedges  danced  by  on  either  side,  and  the  hoofs  of 
my  horse  clicked  harsh  music  on  the  flinty  track. 

The  Frenchman's  beast  was  well  grown  and  powerful,  and 
had  a  good  heart  withal,  which  is  the  chiefest  thing  with  both 
men  and  horses.  I  gave  the  willing  creature  his  head,  and  by 
voice  and  trick  of  body  helped  him  forward.  Perhaps  we  had 
traversed  three  miles  of  the  way  ere  I  looked  back  again.  The 
distance  between  us  had  scarcely  lessened.  Another  mile  we 
went,  still  at  the  same  mad  pace,  and  then  I  turned  again  in  the 
saddle.  This  time  my  survey  was  less  to  my  satisfaction.  One 
man,  evidently  with  a  splendid  animal  under  him,  was  now 
yards  ahead  of  the  rest,  and  had  decreased  the  distance  betwixt 
himself  and  me  by  one  half. 

Presently,  to  my  dismay,  I  could  plainly  hear  the  thudding  of 
his  horse's  shoes  and  the  urgency  of  his  tone.  I  saw  it  was 
Captain  Pringle,  barely  forty  yards  away,  standing  up  in  his 
stirrups.  His  animal,  with  head  bent  low  and  the  foam  all  over 
its  mouth,  was  flying  onward  nearer  and  nearer. 

"  Stop,  in  the  King's  name  !  " 

I  protest  that  I  had  reasonable  excuse  for  not  doing  as  I  was 
bidden  on  this  occasion.  Accordingly  I  lost  no  breath  on 
words,  but  simply  called  on  my  horse  more  strenuously  than 
ever. 

"  Stop  !  "  and  I  heard  a  trigger  click. 

I  was  too  sore  pressed  to  look  round  now ;  yet  shortly  after- 
wards did  so,  and  with  the  bitterest  of  curses.  A  bullet  sang 
by,  and  struck  the  road  five  yards  ahead,  just  as  the  report  hit 
my  ears.  Again  the  pistol  cracked  and  my  horse  lurched  and 
stumbled,  and  'twas  only  by  great  firmness  and  quickness  of 
hand  that  I  prevented  his  downfall.  My  enemy  shouted 
triumph. 

I  turned  round  as  I  felt  the  animal's  faltering  steps  and  per- 


A  RACE  FOR  LIFE.  261 

ceived  a  track  of  blood-stains  on  the  road.  A  bullet  had  buried 
itself  in  the  fleshy  part  of  the  creature's  thigh.  The  delighted 
captain  had  far  outstripped  his  men  by  this,  and  was  scarce 
twenty  yards  behind  ;  and  he  was  gaining  rapidly  now,  for  my 
brave  horse  was  nearly  spent,  whilst  his  wound  grievously 
retarded  him.  With  an  uncompromising  hand  I  snatched  a 
pistol  from  my  belt  (I  ever  carried  one  there  at  least)  and 
eagerly  rammed  a  charge  home.  Meantime  the  captain  was 
howling  at  my  horse's  heels,  and  was  also  fumbling  for  powder 
and  shot  in  his  bandoleer. 

Without  a  word,  I  turned  of  a  sudden  and  fired  full  at  his 
noble  animal.  Down  it  thumped  with  a  crash,  one  white  eye- 
ball glinting  and  its  scarlet  nostrils  quivering.  Its  rider  also 
fell  with  fearsome  violence,  and  rolled  over  and  over  on  the 
dusty  highway.  At  the  same  moment  my  own  horse  had  done 
its  last  yard.  Rapidly  it  sank  to  earth,  .and  I  had  to  be  alert 
to  reach  the  ground  ere  it  pitched  me  out  of  the  saddle. 

The  main  body  of  my  pursuers  still  kept  the  track  some  dis- 
tance away,  so  in  a  fever  of  fear  I  tore  off  my  jacket  and  sword 
(Sir  Nicholas  Marvin's),  discarded  my  hat,  and  kicked  off  my 
heavy  riding-boots.  Thus,  divested  of  all  encumbrances,  save 
a  pistol  and  a  charge  or  two,  I  started  to  run  to  Bridgwater.  I 
had  a  long  start,  but  a  good  two  miles  in  a  sweltering  sun  had 
to  be  traversed.  I  kept  on  the  margin  of  grass  beside  the 
road,  because  'twas  far  less  irksome  to  my  stockinged  feet 
than  the  hard  middle  would  have  been.  Thus  lightly  clad,  I 
raced  along  swiftly,  with  hands  clenched  and  teeth  set  tight. 
All  this  had  been  remarked  by  the  enemy,  for  I  could  hear 
their  hoarse  cries  and  shouts  in  the  distance.  Be  a  man  the 
fleetest  of  his  species,  he  cannot  compare  with  a  horse  in  point 
of  speed  ;  howbeit,  I  trusted  to  my  advantage  to  bear  me  to 
the  hostelry  before  my  pursuers  could  overtake  me,  as  in  my 
youth  I  greatly  excelled  in  running. 

The  King's  men  came  galloping  onward,  whilst  I,  bathed  in 
sweat,  with  throbbing  temples  and  brain  afire,  ne'er  faltered 
once  in  my  wild  career,  but  fled  for  Bridgwater.  As  I  neared 
the  town  the  distance  between  us  was  greatly  lessened ;  yet  I 
still  maintained  a  lead. 

When  I  rushed  in  through  the  front  door  of  the  King's 
Head,  the  soldiers  were  lost  to  sight  for  a  moment  in  a  bend  of 
the  street.  Peter  Whipple  was  with  me  in  an  instant.  In  a  glance 
he  took  in  my  panting  chest,  streaming  face,  and  scant  attire. 

"  Save  me  !  "  I  gasped.     "  Pringle's  at  my  heels." 

Without  a  word  he   thrust  me  behind  the  door  of  an  empty 


262  M/STKESS  DORO THY  MAR  VI N. 

room  just  as  a  clatter  of  hoofs  arose  without.  Through  the 
nick  of  it  I  could  peer  straight  on  to  the  doorstep  and  the  cob- 
ble stones  below  the  sign-board. 

Master  \\'hipple  was  a  man  of  resource  as  well  as  of  action, 
therefore  he  moved  to  the  hostelry  entrance  to  greet  the  King's 
men  as  they  drew  up  their  frothy  horses. 

"  Landlord  !  "  cried  the  little  jackanapes  Pringle,  who  had 
ridden  along  in  full  dignity  of  his  office  on  the  steed  of  one 
of  his  troopers,  "have  ye  set  eyes  on  that  hell-hound  of  a  Black 
Ned  ?  We  close  beset  his  heels  a  minute  agone.  Answer 
truthfully  as  thou  lovest  life." 

"Ay,  to  be  sure,  your  honor,"  quoth  Pete,  in  answer,  and 
truth  was  stamped  upon  his  countenance.  "  He  hath  passed 
this  way  a  minute  since.  He  hath  just  gone  up  the  street." 

"  Away  then,  lads,  again  !  "  cried  the  excited  captain ;  and 
off  they  clattered,  their  breath  heavy  with  curses. 

Pete  joined  me,  his  face  solemn  as  a  judge's.  "Lad,"  said 
he,  "  we  have  just  time  to  breathe,  and  barely  that.  Unless  I 
am  mistaken,  those  fellows  will  be  back  again  in  the  twinkling 
of  a  bedpost.  Now,  let  us  try  to  combat  their  designs.  I  am 
mighty  pleased  to  see  thee  safe,  for  ugly  rumors  were  afloat 
concerning  thee.  Yet  this  time  is  no  time  for  congratulation. 
Now,  submit  thyself  to  me  entirely,  and  by  the  Mass  I'll  ex- 
pound the  meaning  of  a  master  mind." 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

IN  WHICH  WE    LIVE  AND  LEARN. 

"  FRIEND  NED,"  said  Master  Whipple,  "  I  have  a  snug  retreat 
for  thee." 

He  conducted  me  to  the  far  side  of  the  long  room,  and  there 
showed  me  a  cupboard  hidden  three  parts  from  view  by  a  table 
in  front  thereof.  The  room  itself  was  of  goodly  size,  with  a 
door  at  either  end  of  it,  the  one  leading  from  the  entrance 
passage,  and  the  other  at  the  far  end,  close  by  the  cupboard, 
into  the  kitchen. 

Mine  host  installed  me  in  that  cupboard.  This  made  my 
position  none  too  comfortable,  as  the  air  of  it  was  stuffy,  and  if 
size  be  aught  to  judge  by,  'twas  ne'er  intended  to  receive  a 
full-grown  man. 

The  long  table  and  forms  beside  it  were  moved  a  convenient 


IN  WHICH  WE  LIVE  AND  LEARN.  263 

distance  away,  so  that  a  person  might  pass  between  them  and 
the  door  of  the  receptacle. 

"  Young  friend,"  said  Pete,  in  his  most  impressive  manner, 
"  I  am  about  to  show  you  the  true  art  of  business.  A  cultured 
brain  alone  could  conceive  what  I  am  going  to  show  you,  and  I 
flatter  myself  'tis  a  close  observance  of  the  methods  of  Long 
Bob  Bickers,  the  greatest  and  skilfullest  man  in  the  three  king- 
doms in  his  day,  which  doth  now  enable  me  to  imitate  him  in 
some  little  particulars,  no  matter  how  unworthily." 

He  spoke  in  the  weightiest  way  imaginable ;  though 
methought  there  was  something  unctuous  in  his  speech,  and 
something  owlish  in  his  countenance. 

"  Now  pay  strict  heed  to  me  in  everything,"  the  little  man 
continued,  "  and  I  promise  that  you  shall  not  go  unrewarded. 
I  was  much  pleased  with  your  manner  in  that  last  affair,  and 
mayhap  you  do  not  forget  the  guerdon  that  did  accrue  there- 
from. Now  do  as  y'are  bidden.  As  Bob  Bickers  was  wont  to 
remark,  '  obedience  is  a  monstrous  fine  quality  in  other  people.'  " 

Hereupon  my  worthy  host  placed  me  in  the  cupboard  and 
securely  fastened  the  door.  After  that  he  went  and  sought  his 
lad  Tom,  and  through  the  wall  I  could  hear  him  issuing  implicit 
instructions  in  the  kitchen.  What  they  were  I  could  not  tell. 
I  know  that  before  long  savory  odors  found  their  way  through 
the  partition  to  my  nose,  whereupon  I  suddenly  recollected  that 
I  was  hungry.  Other  matters,  however,  soon  arose  to  distract 
my  attention.  I  had  lain  ten  minutes  in  the  cupboard,  when 
once  more  a  clatter  of  hoofs  arose  in  the  street,  and  shortly 
afterwards,  Captain  Joshua  Pringle  and  his  men  clanked  into 
the  room.  Mine  host  came  bustling  forth  to  greet  them, 
smiling  and  obsequious.  By  good  fortune  it  chanced  that  the 
keyhole  was  on  a  level  with  my  eyes,  thus  I  was  able  to  see 
something  of  what  passed  outside.  'Twas  evident  His  Majesty's 
servants  were  sorely  perturbed  in  spirit,  but  mine  host  was  all 
affability. 

"  Man,"  called  out  the  captain,  a  mixture  of  sternness,  dig- 
nit}',  and  irritation,  "  methinks  thou  hast  wantonly  deceived  us. 
It  doth  occur  to  me  thou  art  in  league  against  us  together  with 
that  arch-villain,  Black  Ned.  I  accepted  your  excuses  over  that 
first  business,  yet  I  promise  you  I  have  my  doubts,  and,  'pon 
honor,  ye  shall  swing,  sir,  as  an  aider  and  abettor,  if  I  can  but 
prove  aught  against  you.  Ye  said  the  black  rogue  had  gone 
up  the  street.  Now  I  have  questioned  a  score  of  folks,  and  they 
swear  they  have  not  seen  him  pass.  Verily,  landlord,  ye  shall 
swing  if  ye  have  deceived  me." 


264  MJS TA'£SS  DORO THY  MA K  VI N. 

"  Dear,  dear,  how  annoying !  "  quoth  Pete,  in  honeyed  per- 
suasiveness, and  with  the  sweetest  of  humility.  "  Sink  me ! 
your  honor,  these  sleepy  rustics  have  no  eyes.  Ton  my  soul, 
where  you  and  I  come  f  nxn,  they  would  have  clapped  the  fellow 
into  jail  on  their  own  accord.  But,  by  my  troth,  captain,  you 
and  your  men  look  devilish  thirsty.  Hie,  Tom,  do  you  bring  a 
big  stoup  o'  cider  here  this  minute,  and  look  damned  lively,  so 
that  the  gentles  may  not  wait.  Come,  sirs,  be  seated  and  take 
a  draught.  Long  Bob  Bick — er — that  is,  I  should  have  said, 
my  lord  Buthbungle  ever  averred  that  good  cider  was  a  godsend 
such  days  as  these,  and  I  promise  you  there  is  none  better  in 
Europe." 

Gradually,  carefully,  step  by  step,  Master  Peter  Whipple 
pacified  them,  and  drove  away  by  gentle  benignity,  and  brave 
show  of  kindly  good  nature,  their  disappointment  and  ill 
humor.  They  sat  down  at  the  long  table  in  front  of  me  and 
drank  their  cider.  As  a  crowning  beneficence,  by  which  he 
completely  won  them  over,  he  set  a  smoking  and  choice  smell- 
ing dinner  before  them.  Instantly  they  fell  to,  with  no  lack  of 
appetite,  their  threats  toward  mine  host  smothered  for  the  nonce 
at  this  new  proof  of  his  worth. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Pete,  still  monstrous  polite,  though  quite 
restored  to  their  good  graces,  "  I  will  look  to  it  that  you  are  not 
disturbed.  You  shall  have  this  room  for  your  own  use  alone, 
that  you  may  discuss  any  private  matters  unmolested,  as  gentle- 
men are  fond  of  doing.  Yes,  sir  captain,  I  know  exactly  how 
to  treat  persons  of  your  quality." 

No  sooner  did  I  hear  those  words  of  Master  Whipple's, 
than  I  guessed  he  had  a  set  purpose  in  putting  me  where  he 
had. 

Left  to  themselves,  my  enemies  kept  up  a  continuous  din 
with  knife,  fork,  and  platter.  They  talked  noisily  and  loudly 
among  themselves  for  a  length  of  time,  vowing  empty  vengeance 
against  the  cramped  and  cooped-up  creature  in  the  cupboard. 
Towards  the  end  of  the  meal  their  talk  became  more  sober,  and 
in  a  short  time  Master  Pringle  directed  attention  to  himself 
whilst  he  gave  them  information  on  a  matter  of  import. 

"  Pass  the  cider,  Joe  Walker,  that  I  may  wet  my  whistle,  ere 
I  tell  you  fellows  a  secret,  which  only  I  and  Tom  Cox  are  aware 
of.  Is  it  not  so,  Tom  ?  " 

"  Ay,  captain,  that's  infernally  true." 

"  Now,  list  you.  lads.  I  may  not  speak  loud,  or  I  may  be 
overheard,  though  'tis  my  belief,  when  all  is  said,  the  landlord 
is  an  honest  fellow.  I  have  told  you  nought  before  for  fear  of 


IN  WHICH  WE  LIVE  AND  LEARN.  265 

your  blabbing  tongues.  Still,  pay  good  heed  now,  as  the  time 
for  action  is  nigh  at  hand." 

The  little  officer  spoke  in  a  subdued  tone,  whereat  I  craned 
one  ear  to  the  keyhole,  and  heard  every  word  he  uttered.  And 
long  ere  he  had  ceased  his  talk,  my  nails  bit  into  my  palms 
with  excitement,  whilst  every  fibre  of  my  body  was  a-quivering. 

"What  I  have  to  tell  is  this,  and  do  you  guard  it  as  your 
lives,"  announced  the  captain.  "The day  ere  we  started  for  the 
West  on  this  wildgoose  chase,  His  Majesty  the  King  sent  for 
me,  and  we  had  a  long  and  private  talk  together." 

"  Oh  !  "  exclaimed  half  a  dozen  of  them,  actuated  by  this 
illustrious  name,  and  I  beheld  them  as  I  peered  through  the 
chink  stretching  their  necks,  and  drawing  their  heads  as  close 
to  his  own  as  they  possibly  could  get  them. 

"  King  James,"  went  on  Master  Pringle,  "  first  required  my 
solemn  oath  not  to  divulge  a  word  of  what  he  might  tell  me  un- 
til the  time  for  action  came  ;  and  you  fellows,  being  under  my 
command,  were  to  be  informed  when  the  hour  arrived.  What 
His  Majesty  said  to  me  was  that,  'twas  upon  the  plaint  of  my 
lords  Feversham  and  Sunderland  that  this  expedition  had  to  all 
outward  appearance  been  organized  to  capture  the  highwayman. 
However,  the  King  said  he  had  an  object  behind  it  all  of  much 
deeper  and  further-reaching  import  than  the  arresting  of  this 
scurvy  rogue.  This  object  was  known  only  to  himself,  and  he 
now  imparted  it  to  me,  that  I  might  carry  it  out  (which  I  faith- 
fully promised  to  do)  to  the  utmost  of  my  capacity.  James  said 
for  a  week  or  two  past  he  had  had  black  suspicions  in  his  mind 
anent  a  great  conspiracy  which  he  believed  was  afloat  in  the 
land — a  conspiracy  that  meant  to  oust  him  from  the  throne, 
and  one  beside  which  that  of  Monmouth  was  the  merest  foolery. 
He  suspected  a  large  number  of  his  greatest  ministers  were  at 
the  root  of  the  matter.  Mind  !  'twas  only  suspicion,  for  he  was 
without  any  direct  proof  whatsoever.  Could  he  obtain  it, 
wealt'h  and  title  should  avail  them  not,  but  to  the  gallows  they 
should  go,  as  prouder  necks  than  theirs  had  ofttimes  had  to  do. 
'T\vas  plain  to  him,  he  said,  that  this  smouldering  fire  of  con- 
spiracy must  be  stamped  out  with  resolution,  and  could  he 
discover  the  prime  movers,  assuredly  it  should  be.  Further,  he 
declared  the  safety  of  his  crown  rested  upon  the  matter.  His 
Majesty  was  sore  perturbed  in  spirit,  as  I  could  plainly-  see, 
and  'twill  be  woe  betide  all  traitors  that  fall  into  his 
hands. 

"  This  is  the  duty  he  hath  imposed  on  me.  He  hath  a  great 
fact  to  work  upon,  and  he  trusts  to  my  skill  and  fidelity  in 


256  MISTRESS  DO  ROTH  V  MARVIN. 

making  it  a  powerful  instrument,  in  averting  his  threatened 
ruin.  It  hath  come  to  his  ears  that  several  covert  meetings 
have  been  held  in  various  country  houses  by  divers  lords, 
both  spiritual  and  temporal,  and  he  can  give  a  shrewd  guess 
for  what  purpose.  One  of  these  gatherings  hath  been  quite 
recently  held  at  the  house  of  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin,  at  Kelston 
Manor,  here  in  Somersetshire.  And,  whilst  everybody  hugs 
the  notion  that  we  have  come  westward  to  solely  effect  Black 
Ned's  capture,  without  creating  any  attention  at  all,  I  must 
set  secretly  to  work,  under  the  cloak  of  that  enterprise,  and 
find  out  for  certain,  by  hook  or  by  crook,  whether  this  knight 
hath  any  treasonous  designs.  If  so,  I  am  to  seize  his  body, 
and  his  papers,  and  convey  him  forthwith  to  London.  Arrived 
there,  he  (James)  will  answer  for  it,  that  his  favorite  iron  boot 
shall  make  him  tell  many  things,  and  if  the  other  birds  have  not 
already  flown,  one  and  all  shall  hang  together.  Above  every- 
thing, I  was  to  be  mindful  of  strictest  secrecy,  and  should  Sir 
Nicholas  Marvin  show  any  disposition  to  make  for  Holland, 
which  is  a  veritable  hotbed  of  plotters,  he  must  be  taken  at  once. 
Furthermore,  no  stone  must  be  left  unturned  to  secure  this 
conspirator,  even  to  the  shedding  of  blood.  Anything  I  thought 
fit  to  do  I  was  given  the  power  to  do  it,  yet,  without  fail,  when 
I  proved  the  man's  guilt,  I  must  bring  him  to  London.  To 
show  what  hath  been  vested  in  me,  here  is  something  that  may 
make  you  rub  your  eyes." 

He  drew  a  short  slip  of  parchment  out  of  his  inner  doublet 
pocket,  and  read  aloud  the  contents  as  follows : — 

"  '  //  is  by  Our  order  and  express  desire  that  the  bearer  hath 
done  what  he  hath  done. 

(Signed)     "  '  JAMES  REX.' 

"  There  ;  what  say  you  ?  "  asked  the  captain  proudly,  "  and 
in  His  Majesty's  own  handwriting  too.  That  will  bear  me  out 
in  anything.  Well,  lads,  I  have  not  proved  unworthy  of  the 
confidence  reposed  in  me  by  my  sovereign  ;  and  while  you 
fellows  have  sought  this  miserable,  thieving  villain,  I  have  been 
engaged  on  State  business,  and  weaved  such  a  net  of  evidence 
about  this  Marvin  that,  by  Jupiter,  he'll  swing !  The  blind  old 
spitfire  thought  I  was  only  concerned  in  this  Black  Ned  busi- 
ness when  I  came  to  pay  my  frequent  visits.  He  knoweth  not 
Joshua  Pringle  !  Blind  old  adder  !  Ay,  I  have  gotten  him  like 
a  stoat  in  a  trap.  I  have  bribed  his  major  domo,  and  he  hath 
given  me  the  plan  of  the  house  and  grounds.  I  have  discovered 


IN  WHICH  WE  LIVE  AND  LEARN.  267 

where  the  treasonous  documents  do  lie.  I  have  the  most  posi- 
tive evidence  of  his  guilt.  All  his  male  servants  have  at  one 
time  or  another  been  soldiers,  and  he  is  a  rare  old  fighting  man 
himself;  still  we  shall  have  scarce  any  trouble  if  we  come  at 
the  right  moment.  Three  of  his  fellows  are  away  on  this  Black 
Ned  business,  and  I'll  take  care  they  keep  on  it.  Our  time 
will  be  an  hour  after  sunset  on  this  Friday  evening,  when  an- 
other of  his  servitors  will  be  at  Bridgwater,  buying  provisions. 
That  will  leave  but  one  male — the  major  domo,  who  is  ours, 
and  will  assist  us  in  our  designs.  Mind  !  not  a  word  of  this  to 
a  living  soul.  We  will  ride  up  to  the  manor  to-night  after  sun- 
down, seize  the  treacherous  old  knight,  and  convey  him  post- 
haste to  London.  Zounds,  lads  !  I  smell  preferment  in  this 
matter.  Still,  I  do  not  want  you  to  overlook  this  Black  Ned. 
Have  him  we  will  at  any  cost.  He  hath  played  me  more  than 
one  trick,  and  it  galls  me,  I  can  tell  you.  I'll  show  him  I'm 
not  a  man  to  be  the  butt  of  a  rustic." 

This  was  the  most  important  part  of  wjiat  the  fellow  said.  I 
heard  every  word,  and  as  1  listened  my  breath  came  painfully 
quick,  and  my  brain  staggered  with  this  bewildering  new-born 
knowledge.  I  was  fascinated  by  it  for  a  time;  and  when  I  had 
the  power  to  think  in  some  kind  of  order,  I  felt  as  though  I  had 
lived  a  year  in  half  an  hour. 

So  the  implacable  knight  had  been  properly  duped  !  All  the 
while  he  thought  he  was  bringing  about  my  downfall  he  was 
digging  a  pit  for  his  own.  And  now,  unless  Providence  inter- 
vened, he  would  perish  by  the  arm  of  the  law,  even  as  my  father 
had  done,  for  high  treason — and  much  deeper  treason  than  ever 
he  had  compassed. 

Throughout  the  little  captain's  narrative  no  man  had  put  in 
an  appearance  to  disturb  them  ;  but  no  sooner  was  it  finished 
than,  strangely  enough,  Peter  Whipple  came  bustling  in  to  make 
inquiry  what  the  gentles  drank.  As  usual  he  lauded  his  rare 
and  famous  vintages  till  his  auditors  were  thirsty  by  anticipa- 
tion. The  wine  was  duly  laid  before  them  in  a  large  open 
bowl,  into  which  they  dipped  their  cups  and  sipped  it  there- 
from, and  also  enjoyed  the  seductive  tobacco  fumes  the  while. 
Naught  occurred  to  interrupt  these  proceedings  for  the  space 
of  a  few  minutes ;  then  the  far  door  of  the  room,  which  led  into 
the  outer  passage,  opened,  and  a  venerable  white-bearded  old 
gentleman  entered.  His  bowed  body  was  supported  by  a  staff. 
With  shuffling  steps  he  walked  along  to  the  table  where  the 
King's  men  were  seated.  He  halted  there,  and  leaned  on  it 
for  support  close  by  the  bowl  of  wine. 


2  68  MIS  TRESS  DORO  TH  Y  MA  R  VIN. 

"  Landlord,"  he  piped  in  a  thin  voice,  "I  seek  some  little 
refreshment,  for  the  day  is  hot,  and  I  have  not  yet  come  to  the 
end  of  a  weary  journey." 

"Ah,  yes,  to  be  sure,  sir,"  quoth  Pete,  grinning  and  winking 
at  the  soldiers,  whilst  they  grinned  back  at  the  excellence  of 
the  joke.  "  Mayhap  ye  seek  a  rlask  of  canary,  or,  better  still, 
the  Oporto  vintage,  or  that  of  the  Muscadine,  or  the  prime 
Tokay,  or  the  Bordeaux,  or  the  Burgundy  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  landlord,  they  are  beyond  my  lean  purse.  A  mug 
of  cider  and  a  bite  of  bread  and  cheese  is  all  I  ask." 

"  Ay,  to  be  sure.  Please  to  step  across  the  passage,  where 
you  shall  be  duly  served,  for  these  gentlemen  desire  to  have 
this  apartment  entirely  private." 

The  feeble  creature  hobbled  out  of  the  room  again  as  he  was 
asked  to  do,  and  once  more  the  dozen  men  at  the  table  in  front 
of  me  were  left  to  themselves.  Their  conversation  hereabouts 
began  to  flag.  They  had  neither  such  a  flow  of  speech  nor 
such  a  zest  for  talking.  Maybe  'twas  the  sweet  lulling  influ- 
ence of  the  tobacco  that  affected  them.  Shortly  one  began  to 
yawn,  then  another,  and  then  another;  but  it  should  be  ob- 
served that  the  day  was  drowsy  and  oppressive.  Presently  one 
of  the  dozen  laid  his  head  on  the  table,  and  two  minutes  later 
a  sonorous  snore  told  his  friends  and  companions  that  the  land 
of  dreams  had  claimed  him.  Doubtless  the  excellence  and 
substance  of  the  dinner  had  caused  this.  But,  to  my  astonish- 
ment, they  all  followed  this  example,  so  that  in  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  the  whole  pack  of  them  lay  about  in  twisted  attitudes — 
asleep  !  Could  1  too,  be  asleep  ?  It  seemed  an  unheard-of 
phenomenon  for  all  those  men  to  pop  off  to  slumber  with  such 
unparalleled  suddenness;  tho'  this  notwithstanding  their  snores 
and  regular  breathing  ere  long  mingled  each  with  the  other  in 
a  somnolent  chorus. 

Then  Master  Whipple,  who  for  the  last  twenty  minutes  had 
been  out  of  the  room,  came  in  with  noiseless  tread  ;  and  there 
was  a  solemn  look  upon  his  face.  Strange  to  state,  he  was 
nowise  surprised  to  find  his  customers  asleep.  After  shooting  a 
glance  at  the  recumbent  figures,  mine  host  went  and  locked  the 
door  which  led  into  the  outer  passage.  That  accomplished,  he 
came  to  my  cupboard  and  let  me  out.  There  was  just  margin 
wide  enough  for  me  to  crawl  therefrom  without  touching  my 
enemies. 

"  Come  on,  lad,  and  stretch  those  limbs  o'  thine,"  he  said 
briskly  ;  "  I'll  warrant  they  need  it." 

"But,  Pete,  these  men  ?  " 


IN  WHICH  WE  LIVE  AND  LEARN.  269 

"  What  of  them  ?  They  are  safe  for  the  present.  A  volley 
of  musketry  would  not  wake  them." 

Of  course  mine  host  was  the  man  to  know,  therefore  I  silently 
accepted  his  extraordinary  remark,  and  meanwhile  fully  en- 
joyed my  liberty. 

"  What  means  this,  Pete  ?  What  have  you  got  in  your 
head?" 

"  Brains,"  was  the  laconic  answer  ;  and  I  believed  him. 

For  those  twelve  men  to  be  slumbering  thus,  and  that  door  to 
be  locked,  and  to  see  Peter  Whipple  standing  there,  solemn  of 
mien  and  self-assured  in  manner,  to  put  the  matter  tersely,  it 
looked  like  business. 

"  Now,  friend  Armstrong,  obey  your  leader.  I  bid  you  search 
those  gentlemen  at  the  table,  and  take  every  shilling  from  their 
pockets  and  put  them  into  your  own.  Be  light  and  gentle,  deft 
and  nimble,  and  forget  not  a  gray  groat  piece.  Business  is 
business." 

Forthwith  I  did  as  I  was  bidden.  ,  I  began  to  empty  the 
pockets  of  mine  enemies.  And,  when  I  had  successfully  emptied 
two,  the  other  ten  were  already  empty,  and  they  by  the  hand  of 
Master  Peter  Whipple.  It  chanced  that  one  of  my  unpreten- 
tious two  was  that  of  the  captain  himself,  wherefore  I  took 
particular  care  to  secure  the  King's  order  from  his  pocket. 

"  D'ye  see  this,  Pete  ? "  I  said,  holding  it  up  for  his  inspec- 
tion, "  we  had  best  burn  that,  I  trow  ?  " 

He  seized  it  quickly,  and  muttered  under  his  breath,  "  '//  is 
by  Our  order  and  express  desire  that  the  bearer  hath  done  what 
he  hath  done.  (Signed)  James  Rex?  " 

"  WThat !  burn  this  ?  "  he  cried  ;  "  oh,  boy,  I  weep  for  you  ; 
'Tis  enough  to  make  Rob  Bickers  uproot  his  tombstone.  Twenty 
golden  guineas  would  not  purchase  it  back  from  me.  Thou 
fool  ! " 

He  skipped  away  into  the  kitchen,  and  a  moment  later  was 
back  again  with  scissors,  needle,  and  thread.  He  flung  off  his 
jacket,  straightway  ripped  a  hole  in  the  lining,  slipped  the 
precious  parchment  in,  and  sewed  it  up  again. 

"  Burn  it,  lad  ? "  he  said  ;  "  I  grieve  to  say  you  will  never 
rise  in  the  world.  You  will  be  purse  sneaking  all  your  days, 
instead  of  becoming  churchwarden  and  justice  of  the  peace  for 
the  parish.  But  I've  no  time  to  play  the  dominie.  By  the 
Mass  !  we  have  squeezed  another  goodly  sum.  Business  is  as- 
suredly brisk.  I  reckon  they  have  only  just  drawn  more  pay. 
Now,  Ned,  you  stuff  every  brass  farthing  into  your  pockets. 
We  will  see  to  its  proper  disposal  afterwards.  And  here  also 
18 


2  7 o  Ml 'STRESS  DOKO  THY  MA  R  VIN. 

is  all  I  have  about  mine  own  person.  Four  shillings  and  ten- 
pence.  Take  charge  of  that  as  well." 

I  put  all  the  coins  into  my  breeches  pockets,  marvelling  much 
the  while  at  these  strange  proceedings. 

"  Pete,"  I  said  in  lively  wonderment,  "  they  will  assuredly 
suspect  you.  You  cannot  hope  to  hoodwink  them  this  time." 

"  Oh  master  mind  !  ye  show  most  grievous  lack  of  invention. 
And  a  man  wi'out  invention,  as  Bob  Bickers  was  wont  to 
declare,  is  like  a  ship  wi'out  a  rudder." 

"Pete,"  I  insinuated,  "bethink  you,  was  it  not  my  lord 
Buthbungle  who  made  that  trite  observe  ? " 

He  answered  not,  but  twitched  one  eyelid ;  in  itself  an 
acknowledgment  that  my  shot  had  hit  him. 

"  Did  those  fellows  blab  aught  of  import  during  their  con- 
verse?" he  asked;  "  methought  'twas  not  unlikely  we  might 
earn  an  honest  penny  by  what  they  chanced  to  let  fall.  You 
cannot  have  too  many  ears,  or  too  many  eyes,  in  this  world.  May- 
hap you  caught  something  private.  Is  that  so  ?  " 

I  took  pains  to  conceal  the  major  part  from  mine  host  of  what 
I  had  heard,  as  I  prudently  thought  he  might  be  tempted  to  run 
counter  to  my  wishes.  Besides,  he  had  not  enough  of  my  con- 
fidence to  know  the  whole  of  what  had  passed  betwixt  the 
knight  and  me ;  neither  had  I  an  inclination  to  tell  him  then. 

For  the  best  part  of  an  hour  Master  Whipple  and  I  talked 
together,  unmindful  of  the  sleeping  dozen  in  our  vicinity.  At 
least  Pete  was,  and  I,  trusting  him  implicitly,  regulated  my 
behavior  in  accordance  with  his  own.  And  he  having  no  fear 
of  their  disturbing  us  by  waking  suddenly,  we  talked  without 
restraint.  However,  I  could  not  help  marvelling  how  my 
worthy  friend  was  to  slip  out  of  his  present  plight,  for  me- 
thought no  amount  of  speechifying  could  be  able  this  time  to 
soothe  the  injured  men.  But  Pete  made  so  light  of  the  affair 
that  'twas  obvious  he  had  a  plan  in  his  head.  In  the  course  of 
time  mine  host  glanced  at  the  clock,  and  said — 

"  They  will  rouse  themselves  in  another  quarter  of  an  hour, 
lad,  so  we  had  best  make  some  preparation." 

Without  more  to  do  the  innkeeper  left  me  a  moment,  and 
came  bustling  back  from  the  kitchen  with  a  coil  of  rope  and  a 
long  kerchief.  I  stared  at  these  strange  articles,  though  my 
wits  were  not  keen  enough  to  appraise  their  value. 

As  a  preliminary,  mine  host  did  another  strange  thing.  At 
the  far  end  of  the  room  a  second  cupboard  was  built  into  the  wall, 
and  upon  unlocking  this  it  was  found  to  contain  a  large  assort- 
ment of  coins.  In  fact,  Pete  declared  'twas  a  month's  till- 


IN  WHICH  WE  LIVE  AND  LEARN.  271 

money.  It  consisted  of  copper  and  silver  mostly.  Mine  host 
took  every  piece  of  the  latter  away  ;  after  counting  it,  gave  this 
also  into  my  care ;  scattered  the  copper  coins  all  over  the  cup- 
board, and  leaving  the  door  of  it  open  proceeded  to  give  me  in- 
structions how  to  act. 

"  You  must  now  bind  this  kerchief  tightly  round  my  mouth," 
he  said ;  "  but  first  stuff  this  other  one  into  it.  Then  tie  me 
down  in  that  chair  with  the  rope,  and  coil  it  so  about  my  legs 
and  arms  that  I  cannot  on  any  account  get  loose.  When  you 
have  done  that  get  back  into  your  cupboard,  lock  the  door  of 
it  on  the  inside  and  watch.  If  I  cannot  teach  thee  something 
this  day,  then  either  I'm  a  bigger  fool  else  thou'rt  a  wiser  youth 
than  I  have  allowed  for.  Now,  do  all  this  quietly  and  quickly, 
and  ask  no  questions." 

"  But,  Pete " 

"  Ask  no  questions,  I  said.  Do  as  ye're  bidden.  Your  in- 
structions are  sufficiently  explicit." 

Without  further  parleying,  I  carried  'out  his  orders  to  the 
letter.  The  result  was,  that  when  I  lay  in  the  cupboard  again, 
with  the  inside  locked,  the  key  in  my  hand,  and  a  huge  mass  of 
gold  and  silver  in  my  pockets,  as  I  peered  through  the  keyhole, 
I  beheld  Master  Whipple  sitting  helpless  in  the  chair,  gagged 
and  secured  hand  and  foot,  the  door  of  his  money  cupboard 
wide  open,  the  outer  door  of  the  room  still  locked,  and  the 
twelve  King's  men  still  slumbering,  despite  their  rummaged 
pockets.  Thereupon  the  nature  of  the  trick  dawned  upon  me 
suddenly. 

For  a  few  minutes  nought  happened.  Then  one  of  the  sol- 
diers gave  a  sleepy  grunt,  rubbed  his  eyes,  stretched  himself, 
yawned,  and  gazed  stupidly  about  him.  This  survey  was  in- 
sufficient for  his  bewildered  senses,  therefore  once  more  he 
rubbed  his  eyes  and  stretched  himself  ;  then  with  clearer  brain, 
and  clearer  vision,  he  took  in  the  silent  room  and  Peter  Whip- 
pie.  Still  he  was  not  sure  his  sight  was  right,  therefore  sought 
in  his  pockets  for  his  handkerchief;  which  act  did  ease  his 
understanding. 

"  Mother  of  Jesus  1  "  he  yelled,  in  a  voice  that  shook  the 
ceiling. 

Instantly  he  wakened  his  companions,  but  not  with  any  undue 
display  of  gentleness.  Ere  long  they  were  very  wideawake ; 
and  sprang  to  their  feet,  a  jabbering,  excited,  wrathful  company. 
They  used  ornamental  language,  and  accused  one  another  of 
pocket-picking ;  then  saw  Peter  Whipple.  They  beheld  him 
purple  in  the  face,  wriggling  in  his  fetters. 


272  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR VI N. 

"Who's  that?  "  they  inquired  of  no  one  in  particular,  point- 
ing towards  their  host. 

They  ran  to  him,  and  soon  cut  the  rope  and  ungagged  him. 
Thereupon  Master  Whipple  fell  headlong  out  of  his  seat  and 
rolled  on  the  floor  gasping  and  choking.  They  picked  him  up 
and  managed  after  a  while  to  restore  him  somewhat,  and  then 
asked  him  what  the  matter  was. 

In  answer,  Pete  fell  a-sobbing.  The  tears  rolled  down  his 
cheeks  in  a  never-ending  stream,  and  he  wrung  his  hands  and 
wept  aloud  in  the  depths  of  his  despondence. 

"  Oh,  woe  is  me  !  woe  is  me  !  "  he  bellowed,  in  hysterical 
despair,  with  his  utterance  three  parts  choked.  His  victims 
forgot  their  own  misfortunes  for  a  moment,  and  inquired  con- 
cernedly anent  the  trouble. 

"What  is  the  trouble?"  he  sobbed,  "that  is  the  trouble  !  " 
He  led  them  to  the  rifled  cupboard.  "  There,  do  ye  see  the 
trouble  now  ?  A  whole  year's  earnings  lost  at  one  fell  stroke. 
The  kernel  is  gone,  and  only  the  husk  is  left.  Oh,  woe  is  me  ! 
The  villain  hath  ta'en  every  gold  and  silver  piece  to  the  amount 
of  several  hundred  guineas,  and  hath  only  left  the  coppers 
because  they  were  too  cumbersome  to  carry.  What,  in  the 
name  of  heaven,  shall  I  do  ?  Great  God  !  I  am  beside 
myself.  Guineas — golden,  bailiff-scouting  guineas  !  'Tisruin  ! 
ruin  !  ruin  !  " 

The  injured  man  buried  his  head  in  his  hands  in  a  paroxysm 
of  grief,  and  wept,  and  wept,  and  wept !  till  such  was  the 
copious  outpouring  of  salt  water  that  it  was  a  mercy  the  ill- 
used  creature  did  not  dry  up  the  blessed  spring  forthwith. 
His  misery  was  cruel  to  behold.  Even  his  victims  tried  to 
soothe  him. 

"  No,  no  !  there  is  nought  for  it  but  ruin,  ruin  !  "  he  wailed. 
"  Oh,  what  have  I  done  to  call  down  this  awful  judgment  upon 
me  and  mine  ?  'Tis  starvation  that  stares  me  and  my  poor 
family  in  the  face,  and  I  have  striven  so  hard  to  keep  a  roof 
over  the  heads  of  my  wife  and  children.  And  now  they  must 
starve.  Oh,  'tis  cruel  !  cruel  !  I  shall  surely  die.  Alas,  my 
poor  wife  !  alas,  my  poor  family  !•  'Twill  kill  me  quite  !  " 

Nought  could  assuage  his  grief.  He  beat  his  head  on  the 
wooden  table,  and  in  after  days  (to  his  eternal  pride)  was  able 
to  show  where  he  had  knocked  two  splinters  off  of  it,  such  was 
the  vigor  of  his  thwacks. 

I  will  tell  his  story,  as  herein  lay  his  greatest  triumph,  since 
his  victims  ne'er  thought  of  questioning  the  truth  of  it.  He  made 
out  that  the  old  man  who  had  come  into  the  room  for  refresh- 


/Ar  WHICH  WE  LIVE  AND  LEARAr.  273 

ment  was  none  other  than  Black  Ned  himself  disguised,  and 
that  while  standing  by  the  bowl  of  wine,  he  had  taken  occasion 
to  slip  a  sleeping  powder  in  it,  thereby  sending  the  King's  men 
to  sleep.  No  sooner  had  they  fallen  asleep  than  the  old  man 
came  to  Master  Whipple,  took  him  unawares  by  presenting  a 
loaded  pistol  to  his  (Master  Whipple's)  forehead,  threatening  to 
blow  out  his  brains  should  he  speak  a  word,  thereby  forcing 
him  to  disclose  where  his  money  lay,  and  having  been  shown 
the  place,  he  bound  and  gagged  him,  locked  the  door  that  none 
might  disturb  his  own  designs,  then  robbed  the  innkeeper  and 
the  King's  men  at  his  leisure. 

"  And  there  was  my  lad  Tom,"  veracious  Peter  said,  "  dis- 
pensing liquors  across  the  passage,  whilst  we  folk  were  being 
robbed  of  every  groat  of  our  substance.  Oh,  'tis  bitter,  un- 
utterably bitter !  And  the  rogue,  when  he  had  ta'en  as  much 
as  he  could  comfortably  carry,  simply  bowed  to  me,  as  his 
custom  is,  and  went  out,  locking  the  door  behind  him — taking 
the  key  to  boot,  that  we  might  not  be  discovered." 

Not  being  Doctor  Jonathan  Swift,  I  have  no  pen  to  describe 
those  soldiers  as  they  heard  the  details  of  the  disaster.  Yet 
they  believed  every  word  the  landlord  uttered.  I  had  ever  given 
mine  host  credit  for  being  a  man  of  conspicuous  abilities,  nathe- 
less  even  he  surpassed  himself  in  the  deceiving  of  his  victims. 
His  story  had  such  a  glamour  of  truth  about  it,  and  his  tears 
were  so  salt  that  his  auditors  were  ridiculously  gulled.  I  had 
the  key  in  my  pocket,  and,  to  lend  color  to  the  story,  they 
broke  open  the  door  to  get  out  of  the  room.  I  do  assure  you, 
kinsmen,  they  hurled  maledictions  and  Antichristian  threats 
enough  at  me  to  last  the  deepest-dyed  rogue  a  lifetime.  When 
at  last,  with  further  imprecations,  they  rode  away,  I  unlocked 
the  cupboard  and  rejoined  veracious  Peter  in  the  middle  of  the 
room. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE    COMING    OF    THE    KING'S    MEN. 

MINE  host  apportioned  out  five  guineas  of  the  booty  as  my 
share.  On  the  spot  I  refused  this  offer  flatly,  telling  him  'twas 
I  by  rights  who  ought  to  pay,  seeing  how  he  had  baffled  my 
pursuers.  Without  any  unnecessary  show  of  words  he  admitted 
this  obligation,  pocketed  the  gold  accordingly,  and  edified  me 


274  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MAKVIN. 

immensely  by  remarking  that  my  sterling  qualities,  day  by  day, 
appealed  more  nearly  to  his  heart. 

"  Pete,"  said  I  a  little  later,  "  there  is  one  point  I  am  not  alto- 
gether clear  upon.  Who  was  that  old  man  in  reality  ?  " 

"  My  lad  Tom  ;  rather  smart  youth,  I  reckon  ? "  and  Peter 
Whipple  assumed  a  pious  aspect. 

There  still  remained  a  serious  matter  to  be  transacted,  ere  I 
might  venture  back  to  my  hiding-place;  namely,  to  purchase 
a  new  outfit  for  my  person.  Therefore  Master  Whipple  took 
my  measure,  and  went  across  the  street  to  do  my  shopping. 
He  bought  me  a  new  suit  of  clothes,  a  new  hat,  and  pair  of 
shoes;  also  was  so  kind  as  to  make  me  a  present  of  a  tolerable 
sword  in  lieu  of  the  one  I  had  thrown  away. 

I  bid  my  succorer  adieu  with  a  thankful  heart,  and  lost  no 
time  in  returning  to  the  manor  copse.  I  had  no  thought  for 
the  journey,  as  my  mind  was  completely  immersed  in  the  mo- 
mentous tidings  I  had  heard  from  the  lips  of  Captain  Pringle. 

The  utmost  of  my  thinking  could  only  show  one  way  to  render 
aid'to  my  old  friend  and  recent  enemy.  So  short  was  the  time, 
and  so  greatly  was  I  handicapped  by  having  to  conceal  my 
identity,  that  one  plan  alone  appeared  feasible.  'Twas  truly 
desperate ;  tho'  it  was  the  only  one  to  promise  anything  of 
success.  Accordingly  I  decided  to  act  upon  it,  and  to  keep 
mine  own  counsel  till  the  time  arrived  for  action.  Upon  reach- 
ing my  retreat,  the  first  thing  I  beheld  was  my  love  sitting 
under  the  tree  trunk,  with  a  white  and  anxious  face.  As  soon 
as  the  rustle  of  the  brushwood  reached  her  ears,  she  turned 
this  pallid  countenance  towards  me,  and  it  flushed  with 
welcome. 

She  jumped  up  instantly,  and  came  and  seized  my  two  hands 
in  both  her  own.  Her  eyes  beaconed  with  joy  and  thankful- 
ness, though  I  found  her  fingers  cold  and  trembling. 

"  Mine  own  dear  lad  !  "  she  said  softly,  and  added  in  a  whis- 
per, "  Thank  God,  thou  art  safe  !  " 

Her  tone  surprised  me,  'twas  so  very  fervent.  Also  her  man- 
ner was  equally  as  strange,  seeing  that  for  a  full  minute  she 
said  nothing,  but  looked  rapturously  at  my  face  in  a  sort  of  ec- 
stasy of  happiness.  'Twas  evident  she  had  passed  through  a 
time  of  severe  anxiety.  I  cogitated  much  at  this,  because  when 
last  I  had  seen  her,  she  had  appeared  so  confident  of  my  success 
and  so  free  of  apprehension. 

"  Dearest,"  I  asked,  "  why  this  to-do  ?  " 

"  Ah,  lad  !  "  she  answered,  "  I  have  suffered.  I  have  received 
a  bitter  punishment  for  folly." 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  KING'S  MEN.  275 

"  Not  from  your  father,  I  hope  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  said. 

I  clenched  my  hands,  and  'twas  as  much  as  I  could  do  to 
restrain  my  anger. 

"  But  not  in  the  way  you  think,"  she  added  slyly.  "  He  did 
not  know  himself  what  he  was  doing,  though  he  hath  made  me 
live  in  an  agony  of  dread  since  this  morning." 

':  Tell  me  all  about  it,  darling." 

"  Nay,  not  a  word  till  I  have  had  a  precise  account  of  thine 
own  adventures.  First,  sir,  let  me  have  a  look  at  thee." 

Thereupon  she  gazed  again  upon  me  ;  this  time  her  survey 
was  universal.  She  looked  me  over  from  head  to  heels,  and  the 
pleased  expression  of  her  face  announced  that  this  scrutiny  had 
resulted  entirely  to  her  liking. 

"  So  thou  hast  returned  with  never  a  scathe  or  injury,"  she 
said  ;  "  and  dost  know,  my  lad,  that  is  what  I'm  proud  and  glad 
to  see?  Oh,  Ned,  I  am  so  thankful!" 

Kinsmen,  to  say  the  least,  she  looked- it. 

"  But  my  cousin  ?  "  she  continued  breathlessly,  in  a  sudden 
burst  of  recollection;  "is  he  badly  hurt  ?  Is  he  dead  ?  Oh, 
Ned,  thou  hast  not  killed  him  !  "  Her  face  was  full  of  fear. 

"  Chut !  "  I  cried  ;  "  he  hath  but  suffered  a  flesh-wound  in  the 
shoulder." 

"  A  flesh-wound  only  ?  " 

"Yes ;  just  enough  for  me  to  win  with." 

"  You  are  quite  sure  of  that  ?  "  she  asked  nervously.  "  You 
know  you  fighting  men  hold  such  barbarous  notions.  My  old 
dad  for  instance,  ne'er  calls  a  wound  a  wound  until  it  shows 
signs  of  becoming  mortal." 

"But  I'm  not  a  fighting  man,"  said  I,  remembering  her  some- 
what light  opinion  of  my  prowess. 

"  Indeed  you  are,  sir,"  she  answered,  with  an  inimitable 
brightness  in  her  eyes.  "  I  make  bold  to  say  a  really  great 
fighting  man,  and  one  I'm  proud  to  speak  to." 

She  said  this  quite  free  of  her  usual  flippancy  ;  I  had  never 
heard  her  tone  more  earnest  or  more  reverent. 

"  What  is  this,  Sir  Champion  ?  "  she  queried.  Her  quick  eye 
had  already  noted  the  change  in  my  apparel,  and  in  a  woman, 
as  we  know,  Curiosity  is  a  high  grandee,  who  at  all  times  doth 
exact  the  first  and  best  attention.  "  New  garments !  new  shoon ! 
new  hat !  new  sword  ! "  she  exclaimed  in  pretty  wonderment. 
"My  lad,  I'll  trouble  you  for  an  explanation." 

Upon  this  command  I  entered  into  an  account  of  all  that 
had  befallen  me,  withholding  nought  save  the  designs  of  the 


276  MIS  TRESS  DOROTHY  MA  R  VIN. 

King's  men,  the  name  of  mine  host  of  the  King's  Head,  Bridg- 
vvater,  and  above  all  else — for  which,  kinsmen,  to  this  hour  I 
blush — the  stroke  of  fortune  that  enabled  me  to  beat  the  French- 
man. No,  I  treated  my  victory  quite  as  a  matter  to  be  expected, 
and  in  a  confident,  light,  and  airy  manner.  Perhaps  'twas  that 
my  ears  were  greedy  of  praise  in  those  days — I  know  there  are 
young  men  who  wax  and  grow  fat  upon  it ;  or  was  it  because 
Dorothy  had  evinced  such  singular  admiration  for  my  victory  ? 
Be  this  as  it  may,  I  am  afeared  young  Ned  Armstrong  was 
far  too  big  a  coxcomb  to  ever  think  of  denying  ought  to  his 
vanity. 

The  girl  sat  down  on  a  green  hillock  of  turf  opposite  the 
narrator.  She  rested  her  chin  on  her  hands,  and  her  eyes, 
peeping  above  her  finger-tips,  seemed  to  glow  and  burn  with 
excitement  and  with  sympathy.  Never  a  word  she  uttered  in 
the  course  of  the  story,  though  the  blood  tingled  in  her  cheeks 
when  I  came  to  tell  of  my  victory  over  the  count,  and  she  whis- 
pered "  what  a  man  !  "  as  I  unfolded  Master  Whipple's  scheme. 
And  when  at  last  she  addressed  a  remark  to  me,  I  was  startled 
by  her  voice :  'twas  once  more  full  of  awe  and  reverence. 

"  Dost  thou  truly  love  me,  Ned  ?  " 

I  must  confess  I  was  taken  aback  by  this  question  ;  it  came 
so  swift  and  unexpected.     It  was  put  not  jestingly,  nor  to  gain 
a  compliment,  but  nervously — apprehensively.     My  only  answer 
was  to  kiss  her. 

II  And  wilt  stand  by  me,  Ned,  in  spite  of  every  change  of 
fortune  ?    Even  when  thou'rt  Sir  Edward  Armstrong,  the  greatest 
man  in  this  county,  thou  wilt  hold  to  that  ?    Promise  me,  lad  ! '' 

"  I  will  e'en  do  more  than  promise,  sweetest,  I'll  swear  it. 
Having  loved  thee  once,  I  must  go  on  loving  thee  forever." 

She  rose  and  grasped  my  hand  in  hers. 

"  Oh,  that  I  were  worthy  of  you  !  "  she  exclaimed,  in  a  kind 
of  desperation,  and  blushed  most  beautifully.  "  I'm  but  a  girl 
that's  good  for  nought  save  to  polish  swords  and  cherish  'em 
after  great  fighting  men  have  wielded  them." 

Sure  her  behavior  was  quite  beyond  the  ordinary ;  'twas  so 
strange,  so  grave,  so  unfathomable.  Methinks  I  must  have 
laughed  had  her  face  not  been  so  full  of  earnestness,  or  her 
eyes  so  much  like  embers  of  living  fire. 

"  Ned,"  she  said  in  a  soft,  solemn  whisper,  "thou  art  a  great 
swordsman." 

And  then  she  set  her  head  to  one  side,  and  scrutinized  me 
more  critically  than  ever.  This  was  too  much  for  gravity; 
accordingly  I  laughed. 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  KING'S  MEN.  277 

"  A  very  great v  swordsman,"  she  reiterated  with  the  same 
reverence,  "  and  thou'rt  scarce  taller  than  myself.  Wonderful ! 
But,  oh,  my  lad  !  what  an  eye  thou  hast,  what  a  supple  wrist, 
what  muscularity  of  arm,  and  what  agility  of  body !  Thou 
hast  defeated  the  best  swordsman  in  France  this  day.  The 
Perry  Wilmot  victory  is  nought  at  all  by  comparison  with  this 
one.  Wilmot  was  drunk  when  you  defeated  him  ;  and  when  I 
told  you  what  my  father  said  about  the  man,  I  told  you  far 
more  than  the  truth.  I  was  in  wild  spirits  then — I  do  suffer 
with  them  sometimes.  Besides,  'twould  have  grieved  me  to 
the  heart  to  have  disappointed  you,  as  you  had  so  set  your 
mind  on  fighting.  And  1  came  to  feel  that  you  ran  no  danger, 
because  the  greater  the  swordsman  the  less  will  he  say  of  his 
skill.  My  dear,  dear  lad  !  I  thought  I  had  sent  you  forth  to 
your  death  !  I  have  been  bitterly  punished  for  telling  lies.  Sir 
Nicholas  told  me  scarce  an  hour  after  your  departure  this 
morning,  all  about  young  Raoul's  splendid  fighting  qualities. 
My  cousin  and  he  had  been  having  a  little  bout  for  pastime, 
and  when  M.  de  Crois  left  us,  the  old  gentleman  swore  he'd 
wager  a  bin  of  his  Lanquedoc  that  no  man  in  England  could 
match  the  lad  in  the  art  of  fence.  I'  faith  he  went  so  far  as  to 
doubt  whether  he  could  have  done  so  himself,  even  in  his 
prime.  He  says  the  count  possesses  all  the  virtues  of  a 
master,  and  hath  one  weakness  only." 

"  Over-confidence  ?  "  I  suggested. 

"  That's  it,  exactly.  Never  have  I  seen  old  daddy  so  enthusi- 
astic as  he  was  this  morning.  'Twas  as  though  twenty  years 
had  been  lifted  from  his  shoulders.  He  declared  that  to  fight 
with  that  man  would  be  almost  an  education  in  the  art  of  fence. 
He  said  there  was  more  backbone  in  this  present  generation 
than  he  had  given  it  credit  for,  and  it  did  his  heart  good  to 
know  it.  He  had  not  thought  there  was  one  who  could  main- 
tain the  traditions  of  the  Forties,  yet  he  had  found  De  Crois 
worthy  to  rank  with  the  best.  So  he  just  kept  on  pledging 
Raoul's  health  and  sighing  for  his  own  lusty  manhood  back 
again,  that  he  might  have  shown  him  what  a  Stuart  cavaliero 
was  capable  of  doing ;  till  at  last  he  bethought  himself  of  me. 
Thereupon  he  snapped  his  fingers  in  my  face,  and  swore  that 
if  he  had  another  word  of  demur  from  me  about  the  forth- 
coming wedding,  he  would  drag  me  to  church  himself,  and  so 
have  the  matter  done  by  means  of  a  special  license.  '  For,' 
said  he,  '  'twas  folly,  nay,  sheer  criminal  wickedness,  to  neglect 
so  grand  a  chance  of  bringing  a  great  man  nearer  to  the  family.' 
When  I  heard  this,  Ned,  I  thought  that  I  had  killed  thee.  Me- 


278  MISTRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VI N. 

thought  I  had  surely  sent  thee  forth  to  th»y  destruction.  Who'd 
have  guessed  that  that  silly,  jabbering,  Frenchified  clodpoll  had 
been  such  a  master.  When  I  heard  of  this,  'twas  too  late  to 
alter  things.  So,  for  the  last  four  hours,  I  have  not  known 
v;hat  it  hath  been  to  breathe  in  comfort.  Methought  you  could 
have  no  possible  chance  against  him.  I  am  not  ashamed  to 
admit  this  to  you  now,  for  papa  is  not  the  man  to  bestow  such 
praise  without  due  reason.  But,  in  spite  of  everything,  here 
you  are,  safe  and  sound ;  and  oh,  lad "  * 

Here  she  broke  off  short,  as  though  lost  for  words  to  express 
her  admiration,  and  relied  on  looks  alone  to  record  the  same. 
This  unusual  meed  of  praise  set  me  protesting  my  un worthi- 
ness. 

"  No  need,  Dorothy,  to  hold  me  in  such  wondrous  respect," 
said  I,  my  vanity  tickled  immensely.  Of  course  I  used  the 
boaster's  favorite  trick — false  modesty.  Therefore,  you  will 
understand  that  I  vehemently  protested  against  her  eulogies, 
pronouncing  myself  unworthy  of  them.  Still  all  the  time  I 
took  great  care  that  my  voice  should  belie  my  words,  so  that 
no  matter  what  I  said  my  tone  inferred,  "  Don't  you  believe 
me,  Dorothy.  'Tis  only  my  modesty — all  great  men  are  modest. 
I  deserve  all  the  praise  I  get  from  you,  and,  in  fact,  my  dear, 
a  good  deal  more  than  you  can  give  me." 

"  Methinks  I  am  the  proudest  and  happiest  woman  in  this 
county  just  now,  Ned,"  she  said,  and  her  tones  and  looks  did 
not  belie  her  words. 

"  What  hath  brought  you  to  that  frame  of  mind,  Dorothy  ?  " 
I  promptly  inquired,  sniffing  further  compliments. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  protect  and  succor  the  greatest  man  in 
England  from  the  malice  of  his  enemies." 

"The  greatest  man  in  England,  mistress  ?  " 

"  Yes,  my  dear  lad  ;  you  merit  that  title." 

"  Then  you  set  swordsmanship  and  mere  manual  skill  before 
book-learning  ?  "  Yet  I  knew  full  well  she  did.  I  only  asked 
her  to  prolong  the  sweetness. 

"I  should  rather  think  I  do,"  she  answered  indignantly. 
"  When  I  was  very,  very  young  I  once  asked  my  old  dad  a 
similar  question.  'Hey,  what?  Book-learning,  quotha  ?' said 
he.  '  Did  book-learning  build  up  the  Roman  Empire  ?  Did  it 
drive  the  hated  Spaniard  from  these  shores  ?  Did  it  enable 
William  the  Norman  to  conquer  England  ?  Did  it  make  old 
Noll  Cromwell  Lord  Protector  ?  Book-learning,  is  it  ?  Go  to, 
thou  fool ! '  And  my  gentleman  tapped  his  sword,  and  told 
me  I  was  not  worthy  of  my  breed." 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  KING'S  MEN.  279 

"  And  you  considered  him  quite  right  in  this  matter  ? " 

"  Right  ?     Why,  he  is  never  wrong  in  matters  military." 

"  And  do  you  call  it  an  honor  to  succor  a  man  who  owes  you 
his  life  twice  over?"  I  am  happy  to  say  that  at  this  point  my 
voice  immediately  discarded  chicanery.  I  had  arrived  at  topics 
that  I  never  yet  have  trifled  with. 

"  It  doth  not  detract  from  your  capacity,"  she  answered. 
"  And  if  you  think  you  still  lie  under  an  obligation  towards  me, 
I  will  disabuse  your  mind,  sir.  This  day's  work  hath  wiped 
out  all  debts,  and  hath  scored  a  heavy  one  up  against  myself." 

"  Thank  you,  dearest,"  I  said,  touched  by  her  generosity ; 
"  but  you  surely  forget  'tis  no  honor  to  protect  a  thief." 

"  Who  says  thou'rt  a  thief  ?  " 

"  The  King." 

"  The  King  is  a  tyrant  and  a  murderer.  He  killed  your 
father,  and  balked  you  of  your  bread." 

"  I  am  none  the  less  a  thief." 

"  Well,  if  you  are  so  very  fond  of  that  word  !  Still,  I  have 
it  in  my  mind  to  prove  you  wrong." 

"  Try,"  said  I  bitterly,  and  with  half  a  sigh  at  her  enthu- 
siasm. 

"  Hearken  to  me,  young  man.  Pietro  Negretti,  in  his  cele- 
brated work,  '  The  Usages  of  Modern  Warfare,'  says,  'It  is  a 
legitimate  thing  to  seize  an  enemy's  property  when  the  occa- 
sion offers.'  Have  you  gone  beyond  seizing  the  enemy's  prop- 
erty to  keep  body  and  soul  together  ?  No,  say  I." 

'Twas  a  delight  to  see  her  eyes  sparkle  in  their  triumph. 
Her  reasoning  was  simply  irresistible  so  far  as  it  went ;  tho', 
like  all  woman's  reasoning  (that  is,  as  much  as  I  have  encoun- 
tered), one  could  not  examine  it  very  deep  ere  a  flaw  was  found. 

"This  will  not  make  me  any  honester  in  the  sight  of  the 
world,"  I  said. 

"  You  are  honest  enough  for  the  one  that  loves  you,  dear 
lad  !  Do  I  care  for  the  world  ?  Why  should  it  come  'twixt 
you  and  me  ? '' 

There  was  such  a  glow  in  her  face,  and  she  spoke,  oh,  so 
tenderly !  that  forthwith  I  hauled  down  my  colors. 

"  Thou  art  beaten,  boy,  quite  beaten  !  "  she  exclaimed,  mid- 
way between  seriousness  and  laughter ;  "  and  I,  being  victor, 
must  e'en  dictate  the  terms  of  the  armistice.  Promise  me  that 
you  will  ne'er  again  use  that  ugly  word  in  my  presence." 

"  But,  Dorothy " 

"  Promise,  lad,  or  the  vanquisher  of  M.  de  Crois  shall  spend 
to-morrow  fasting." 


2  8  o  MIS  TRESS  DORO  TH  Y  MA  R  VIM. 

"  But " 

"  Promise,  sir,  or  the  finest  swordsman  in  England  shall  be 
deprived  of  his  cigarros." 

"  Oh,  if  it  comes  to  that,  I  will  promise,  you  young  tyrant !  " 

And  we  sealed  this  compact  with — but,  mayhap,  good  kins- 
men, you  can  guess  in  what  mode  we  did  it. 

Five  minutes  later  she  left  me,  promising  to  return  as  usual 
first  thing  in  the  morning.  Alas !  how  little  she  guessed  what 
was  pending  ere  another  sun  might  rise.  I  had  not  said  a  word 
to  her  on  that  subject,  because  1  felt  that  to  do  so  would  serve 
no  useful  purpose.  I  fell  into  a  kind  of  fever  of  excitement. 
There  was  absolutely  nought  to  do  but  wait  for  nightfall  and  the 
coming  of  the  King's  men.  Upon  looking  at  the  setting  sun,  I 
judged  there  was  scarce  three  hours  of  daylight  left.  I  reviewed 
all  the  circumstances  more  exactly  in  the  vain  hope  of  finding 
a  loophole  of  escape  from  so  perilous  a  dilemma.  The  captain's 
plan  was  secret  and  skilful.  The  attack  was  to  be  made  when 
the  old  knight  would  be  able  to  offer  the  least  resistance. 
'Twould  be  quite  easy  to  seize  his  person  and  his  papers  within 
the  space  of  a  few  minutes — have  a  coach  in  waiting  in  the 
darkness,  and  hurry  him  to  London  without  any  being  the  wiser, 
save  Dorothy,  who  would  be  powerless  to  save  or  to  aid  her 
ill-fated  sire. 

At  last  an  idea  struck  me.  If  the  coast  was  clear,  there  was 
still  time  for  Sir  Nicholas  to  slip  his  enemies.  Thereupon  I  set 
out  cautiously  to  reconnoitre.  I  made  my  way  to  the  outskirts 
of  the  copse,  and  peered  through  the  trees  that  skirted  the 
carriage-track  leading  to  the  house.  And  the  very  first  thing  I 
noticed  was  a  man  on  the  fringe  of  grass,  lying  down  immedi- 
ately opposite  me.  I  slipped  nastily  back  into  the  shadow  of 
the  trees,  for  I  recognized  the  King's  uniform.  Twenty  yards 
further  down  another  was  concealed  in  an  exactly  similar  fash- 
ion. Both  these  men  overlooked  the  only  road  from^he  house. 
'Twas  patent  none  might  pass  along  it  without  the  alarm  being 
given.  And,  even  had  the  track  been  clear,  it  occurred  to  me 
that  the  old  war-dog  would  not  have  fled,  but  would  have  fought 
the  matter  out ;  I  knew  his  heart  was  big  enough. 

This  was  how  it  would  have  to  be.  The  shortness  of  the  time 
had  afforded  me  no  opporunities  for  providing  better.  There- 
fore my  plan  was  to  lie  in  wait  till  the  King's  men  rode  up  and 
had  gone  in  to  Sir  Nicholas,  who  I  was  certain,  when  he  learned 
their  errand,  would  shed  every  drop  of  the  blood  in  his  veins 
sooner  than  yield  up  the  incriminating  documents.  Thus  I 
would  seize  the  most  favorable  moment  during  the  altercation. 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  KING'S  MEN.  281 

rush  in  sword  in  hand,  and  maim  as  many  as  I  might  ere  they 
had  gathered  their  wits  sufficiently.  This  would  reduce  their 
numbers,  and  thereby  mitigate  the  hopelessness  of  the  struggle, 
as  two  desperate  men,  both  accomplished  in  the  art  of  fence,  even 
•when  pitted  against  heavy  odds,  require  dealing  with  by  incom- 
petent and  unskilled  swordsmen.  Call  this  a  wildgoose  scheme 
if  you  will ;  but  "  desperate  cases,  desperate  remedies."  And 
it  was  certainly  the  best  that  offered  itself,  for  the  more  I  con- 
sidered the  subject,  the  more  certain  I  became  that  the  knight 
would  never  fly,  only  as  a  final  resource.  Also  there  was  a 
subtle  thought  forever  rising  in  my  mind.  "  Suppose,  Ned,1' 
said  an  unbidden  voice,  "  you  make  a  brilliant  effort  this  night, 
and  save  the  knight  and  his  papers;  your  cause  cannot  help 
being  benefited  by  the  circumstance.  Sir  Nicholas  is  bound  to 
entertain  much  kinder  sentiments  towards  you."  In  answer  to 
this,  the  only  thing  left  for  me  to  do  was  to  devoutly  hope  that 
matters  would  end  so  favorably,  and  to  watch  the  sinking  of  the 
sun  and  the  lengthening  of  the  shadows. 

As  the  time  drew  near  I  recollected  that  in  this  rush  of  great 
events  one  thing  had  been  omitted.  I  had  not  warned  the 
knight.  This  I  had  had  ample  chance  of  doing  by  the  agency 
of  his  daughter.  Then  I  asked  the  hard  question  of  myself, 
"  Why  should  I  warn  him  ?  Is  he  not  one  of  my  fiercest 
enemies  ?  "  This  should  prove  a  key  to  my  plan  of  action.  I 
was  not  going  to  the  knight's  assistance  out  of  any  love  for  him. 
'Twas  because  I  loved  his  daughter.  And  to  love  her  with  im- 
punity I  must  have  her  father's  goodwill.  The  readiest  way  to 
obtain  that  goodwill  was,  to  my  thinking,  by  rendering  him  an 
important  service.  Here  was  the  sought-for  opportunity.  Yet 
it  must  be  one  large  enough  to  impress  him  with  its  magnitude. 
Now,  a  mere  word  of  warning  carries  no  glamour  with  it ;  but  a 
brilliant  bit  of  fighting  and  half  a  dozen  dead  men  heaped 
around  you  make  a  far  deeper  impression  upon  a  soldier's  mind 
than  the  most  eloquent  oration  ever  uttered,  or  than  a  million 
words  of  warning.  From  which,  my  children,  it  should  be  seen 
that,  though  your  sire  was  at  this  time  no  older  than  yourselves, 
there  was  room  in  his  head  for  other  things  as  well  as  folly. 

Ten  times  during  the  last  hour  I  drew  my  sword  from  its 
scabbard,  felt  the  edge  with  my  thumb,  and  scanned  the  white 
blade  to  espy  any  speck  of  dirt  or  rust  that  might  linger  on  it. 
I  traversed  every  foot  of  my  hiding-place.  I  could  not  keep 
quiet  through  longing  feverishly  for  nightfall.  The  waiting  I 
could  not  bear  ;  the  business  being  one  that  must  have  unset- 
tled any  man.  A  torturing  doubt  seized  me  at  the  last  moment 


282  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

as  to  whether  I  was  really  making  the  most  of  my  chances.  I 
went  over  all  the  previous  ground  again  ;  and  knowing  how  high 
the  game  was  for  which  I  played,  I  rightly  argued  that  the 
stakes  also  must  perforce  be  high. 

I  left  my  bower  as  the  shadows  crept  across  the  earth,  and 
making  my  way  carefully  along,  I  reached  a  spot  bordering  on  a 
trim  lawn  which  overlooked  the  front  entrance  to  the  house. 
Here  I  hid  myself  as  well  as  possible,  with  ears  strained  to  catch 
a  clatter  of  hoofs  on  the  gravel,  though  the  King's  men  were 
scarcely  due  yet. 

Presently  I  saw  the  white  blinds  drawn  of  the  room  I  had  spent 
so  many  hours  in,  and  the  candles  striking  through  them  gave 
a  feeble  reflection  for  a  yard  or  two  without.  The  darkness 
came  sneaking  upon  the  world.  God  alone  knows  what  is  done 
in  the  darkness,  the  horrible  darkness  ! 

As  I  waited  in  my  place  of  concealment,  I  could  hear  the 
strains  of  the  spinet,  accompanied  by  a  familiar  voice,  which 
trilled  a  lively  lilt.  The  sprightly  sound  was  hard  to  hear  ;  it 
turned  my  heart  cold. 

The  soldiers  should  be  here  by  now.  Then  my  heart  ceased  to 
beat  almost ;  I  had  caught  the  long-listened-for  clatter  at  last. 

Horsemen  came  thudding,  with  snorting  horses,  past  where  I 
lay.  No  lack  of  noise  was  with  them  ;  riders  being  busy  pass- 
ing japes  one  among  another,  whilst  their  horses'  hoof-irons 
scrunched  the  pathway.  The  King's  men  halted  before  the 
entrance  steps,  slipped  off  their  animals,  and  fastened  them 
together. 

I  crouched  along  in  the  shadow  of  the  wall  of  the  house  to 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  soldiers,  that  I  might  hear  all  that 
passed.  Ere  they  could  enter  the  house,  the  front  door  was 
opened,  and  Dorothy  came  out  on  to  the  steps  to  greet  them. 

"  We  have  news  of  great  import  for  your  father,  mistress," 
said  the  captain. 

"  Anent  Black  Ned  ?  "  she  asked.  "  I  do  hope,  Captain,  you 
have  caught  the  slippery  villain."  Whereat  I  knew  she  was 
tantalizing  Master  Joshua  Pringle. 

With  that  he  followed  her  into  the  hall,  his  men  trooping 
after  him.  No  sooner  had  the  last  man  passed  out  of  sight 
through  the  hall  door  than  I  drew  every  pistol  from  the  holsters 
of  the  saddles,  and,  gathering  them  in  my  arms,  I  ran  and  hid 
them  among  the  brushwood,  knowing  that  no  sword  can  com- 
pare with  a  fire-arm  ;  and  should  any  man  during  the  forthcom- 
ing conflict  bethink  himself  of  using  his  pistol,  there  would  soon 
be  an  end  to  the  business. 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  KING'S  MEN.  283 

Here  I  noted  a  thing  which  stimulated  my  spirits  in  a  high 
degree ;  I  discovered  that  only  six  of  Captain  Pringle's  com- 
mand were  with  him  ;  the  ostensible  reason  being  that  his  task 
was  so  simple  he  could  afford  to  treat  it  lightly. 

Afterwards  I  listened  under  the  window  of  the  big  sitting- 
room,  in  which  the  candles  were  burning.  I  heard  voices 
tolerably  tranquil,  then  a  little  louder,  then  louder  still.  Follow- 
ing that  I  heard  the  knight's  pitched  high  in  anger  ;  and  the 
six  languages  plenteously  used.  Soon  his  rage  was  his  master. 

"  No,  you  base-born  hound,"  I  heard  him  cry  quite  plain,  "  I 
will  not  give  up  the  papers  or  my  person  either  !  Dost  think 
James  Stuart  is  to  do  as  he  lists  in  the  matter  ?  E'en  though 
ye  are  seven  to  one,  I  will  not  surrender.  We  will  have  a  little 
breather  first." 

"  Don't  be  a  fool !  "  put  in  Master  Pringle. 

"A  fool,  didst  thou  say,  jackanapes?  Thou  shalt  pay  for 
that." 

Thereupon  methought  I  caught  some  muffled  sounds  of 
scuffling,  and  I  heard  the  captain  bellow — 

"  At  him,  lads,  before  he  gets  his  sword.  You,  Bill  and  Tom, 
the  papers  are  in  the  cabinet ;  seize  them  whilst  we  take  his 
worship." 

These  instructions  were  not  carried  out  aright,  for  directly 
afterwards  there  came  the  ring  of  steel. 

In  wild  excitement  to  see  how  the  land  lay,  I  clambered  to  a 
precarious  foothold  on  the  window-sill,  and  thereby  managed  to 
gain  a  peep  of  the  interior  over  the  top  of  the  blinds.  I  saw 
the  knight,  despite  his  gout  and  the  infirmities  of  age,  plying 
his  sword,  as  a  young  man  might  have  done  with  admirable 
deftness  and  vigor,  dancing  round  the  table  the  while  to  evade 
a  couple  of  men ;  whilst  the  captain,  with  folded  arms,  along 
with  the  others,  stood  in  one  corner  grinning  in  their  relish  of 
the  joke. 

Two  more  walked  across  the  room  to  where  Dorothy  stood 
with  her  back  to  the  cabinet  containing  the  precious  documents. 
They  strode  up  to  her  boldly,  and  bade  her  make  way  for  them 
to  open  it ;  but  recoiled  in  a  second,  for  the  maid  whipped  a 
pair  of  pistols  from  behind  her  back,  to  their  astonishment,  and 
thrust  the  muzzles  in  their  faces. 

They  halted,  laughing ;  but  the  maid  was  not  jesting.  Her 
lips  were  tight,  and  her  eyes  terrible.  Her  fingers  fairly  seemed 
to  twitch  upon  the  triggers ;  whilst  the  look  in  her  face  had 
nought  to  do  with  that  of  a  gentle  maiden.  Another  step,  and 
both  of  them  would  have  had  acquaintance  with  eternity.  This 


284  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MA R I YAr. 

was  enough  for  me  ;  I  had  seen  those  eyes  ablaze,  and  those 
hands  with  two  wicked  weapons  in  them.  I  jumped  off  the 
window-sill  at  a  bound,  raced  up  the  entrance  steps,  and  sword 
in  hand  ran  in  among  the  company.  Four  men  instead  of  two 
were  now  besetting  Sir  Nicholas,  and  one  at  least  bore  the 
marks  of  his  weapon.  Still  the  knight  was  quite  outnumbered  ; 
another  minute  then  all  would  have  been  over,  for  one  of  his 
assailants  must  have  run  him  through.  As  I  ran  in  and  pinked 
the  foremost  of  the  four  clean  through  the  chest,  cries  of 
anger  and  surprise  rang  thro'  the  room,  and  then  'twas  wildest 
chaos. 

I  can't  tell  what  next  occurred ;  I  cannot  set  things  down 
hereabouts  as  they  befell  in  their  due  order.  I  know  that  in 
ten  minutes  or  even  less  the  beautiful  room  was  a  slaughter- 
house. The  knight  forgot  his  age,  his  stiffness,  his  infirmities 
— forgot  everything  but  the  lust  of  killing;  and  I — oh,  J  did 
too  !  We  fought  till  we  couldn't  see ;  without  cries,  without 
words ;  but  with  the  ferocious  silence,  the  dumb  blood- 
questing  tenacity  of  bull-dogs.  The  sparks  flew  out  of  the 
steel.  'Twas  sickening  to  feel  the  squelch  of  the  blood  at  your 
sword  point,  to  feel  your  adversaries'  panting  breath  in  your 
face ;  'twas  hand  to  hand  all  the  time.  Over  the  table,  round 
the  table,  across  the  table,  we  fought  and  writhed  and  struggled, 
and  truly  that  table  was  our  guardian  angel.  It  alone  saved 
us  from  the  press  of  the  foe.  We  cut,  hacked,  and  slashed, 
and  ever  at  the  men  in  red.  Neither  heeded  his  neighbor,  nor 
had  a  thought  beyond  how  to  dodge  the  reeking  steel. 

Twice  I  was  beaten  to  my  knees,  yet  each  time  rose  with 
little  hurt,  and  fought  again  the  harder,  till  at  last  my  sword 
found  the  vitals  of  an  enemy.  With  a  moan  he  squirmed  and 
fell  in  his  death  throe.  I  skipped  away,  yet  still  the  devilish 
steel  was  at  my  body.  The  knight  and  I  were  side  by  side  for 
a  second,  and  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  him  as  his  Perillo  pierced 
the  throat  of  one  poor  devil,  and  then  I  saw  his  other  hand 
was  running  blood.  This  was  only  a  glance,  for  an  instant  later 
I  was  half  blinded  with  my  own,  as  it  streamed  from  my  brow. 
But  I  wallowed  in  it,  and  stabbed  and  thrust  with  a  tiger's 
fury. 

Again  I  was  beaten  to  my  knees,  but  hung  by  the  hand  to  a 
murtherous  blade  about  to  descend.  Suddenly  it  was  left 
therein  entirely ;  the  knight  had  spitted  its  owner,  and  he,  too, 
lay  among  the  stricken.  We  two  demons  ne'er  ceased  till  the 
conflict  was  decided,  whereat  we  stayed  our  scarlet  blades, 
looked  round,  and  saw  a  slaughter-house. 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  KING'S  MEN.  285 

Yea,  we  stopped  and  took  survey  when  there  was  nought  else 
to  do.  Faces  and  swords  dripping  blood,  we  stood  side  by  side 
and  beheld  six  men  groaning  and  writhing,  or  stark  dead  upon 
the  carpet.  The  seventh  man,  Captain  Joshua  Pringle,  was 
nowhere  to  be  seen.  The  butchery  was  horrible ;  the  walls, 
the  furniture,  and  the  wainscot  were  all  splashed  with  purple, 
whilst  numberless  articles  were  overturned,  else  smashed  in 
fragments.  'Twas  a  hideous  nightmare. 

Dorothy  still  stood  with  her  back  to  the  cabinet,  her  face 
white  with  wordless  terror.  Her  hands  shook  and  her  whole 
body  seemed  to  shrink  in  mute  horror  from  the  sight.  Albeit 
she  grasped  the  pistols;  and  I  knew  by  the  magnificent  deter- 
mination which,  in  spite  of  all,  still  lurked  in  her  frightened 
face,  that,  had  either  of  her  friends  been  in  need  of  assistance, 
she  would  promptly  enough  have  lent  it. 

As  for  the  knight,  he  ne'er  heeded  the  butchery  nor  the  groans 
of  the  wounded ;  but  simply  seized  my  hand  in  his  own  bloody 
one,  and  sang  out,  "  Man,  y'are  a  beautiful  fighter  ! "  then 
wiped  his  sword  on  the  tail  of  his  doublet,  mopped  the  blood 
from  his  face  on  the  sleeve  of  it,  and  stuck  his  sword  point  in 
the  carpet.  His  one  eye  burnt  brighter  than  fire.  Every  fibre 
of  his  body  quivered.  He  was  a  madman. 

"  A  noble  victory,"  he  roared,  ;t  a  noble  victory  !  Seven  to 
two,  and  there  they  are  laid  out  for  their  coffin-cloths.  Wench, 
we're  a  dazzling  pair.  This  is  life,  my  lass — we're  back  in  the 
Forties  now.  Man,  where  did  y'e  get  that  upper-guard  ? — I 
call  it  great — ay,  y'are  a  beautiful  fighter !  Friend,  I  am  young 
again  ;  this  night  hath  knocked  forty  years  off  my  age-scroll. 
I've  a  score  yet  to  settle  wi'  you,  mon  cher.  That  may  keep 
for  a  minute,  then  we'll  have  another  flutter — we'll  make  a 
night  o'  this.  Let's  have  a  drink  ere  we  settle  the.  game. 
Thirsty  work,  hey  ?  Come,  Dorothy,  a  couple  of  bottles  of  my 
Lanquedoc.  Oh,  oh  !  now  what  hath  gotten  the  wench.  A 
damned  deal  too  nice  i'  th'  stomach  as  usual." 

The  girl  said  nothing,  but  recoiled  from  his  look.  This,  how- 
ever, did  not  affect  him.  The  unchristian  creature,  though 
wounded  in  at  least  half  a  score  separate  places,  jumped  across 
to  the  cupboard,  and  produced  two  bottles  of  wine.  There  was 
no  cup  about  the  place,  therefore  he  simply  knocked  off  the 
neck,  and  bade  me  do  likewise.  This  much  accomplished,  he 
gulped  down  a  great  draught,  and  then  holding  the  wine  in  a 
neckless  bottle  above  his  head  in  one  hand,  and,  despite  all  in- 
juries, his  sword  in  the  other,  roared  out  in  a  wild,  cracked 
voice,  with  scantiest  melody — 

19 


286  M/STRESS  DOROTHY  MARTIN. 

"  Up  wi'your  cups  to  King  Charlie, 
We  pledge  him  in  sparkling  sack. 
To  perdition  we  send  wi'out  parley 
Each  ranting  Presbyter  Jack. 
A  fig  for  the  Huntingdon  Brewer, 
A  kick  for  old  Ironside  Joe, 
Stick  'em  both  on  to  this  skewer, 
A  curse  for  the  prick-eared  foe." 

Thus  he  screeched  the  old  Cavalier's  drinking  song,  till  he  had 
finished  his  bottle  and  mine  as  well,  and  his  voice  failed  him; 
whereupon  he  executed  something  of  a  hobbling  dance,  without 
the  least  thought  for  the  blood  that  dripped  from  his  person. 

"  Now,  Ned,  are  ye  ready  ?  Y'are  a  rare  fighting  man,  else 
I  should  not  have  shown  you  such  courtesy.  I  am  beholden 
to  thee  for  what  thou  hast  done,  yet  I  do  not  forget  old  scores. 
Come,  my  lad,  we  have  breathed  ;  we'll  now  see  who's  the  better 
man.  If  my  luck  abides,  I  shall  have  thee  through  the  heart 
at  the  third  pass." 

I  winced  at  this  ;  the  man  was  a  horrible  enemy.  His  bloody 
countenance  relaxed  into  a  gleeful  grin.  Just  then  one  of  the 
wounded  men  gave  a  more  piteous  groan  than  ever. 

"  Ventre  Saint  Gris  !  "  exclaimed  Sir  Nicholas,  "  'tis  evident 
I  am  not  half  the  man  I  once  was.  Here  am  I  forgetting  the 
first  of  duties  towards  an  enemy.  I  thank  you,  friend,  for 
your  kindly  reminder." 

He  stepped  across  to  where  the  wounded  man  lay  helpless, 
raised  his  thirsty  sword,  and  passed  it  straight  through  the 
soldier's  heart.  The  blood  squirted  hideously  on  to  the  walls 
and  wainscot. 

"  Any  more  ?  "  inquired  the  monster.  "  Ah,  to  be  sure,  there 
are  three  yet." 

He  made  a  movement  towards  another  wretch,  and  raised  his 
sword  again.  Ere  it  could  descend,  Dorothy  had  rushed  to 
his  side,  and  hung  with  both  hands  to  his  sword  arm. 

"  Stop,  sir  !  "  she  cried. 

"  Stop  !  dost  know  what  thou  sayest,  soft  wench  ?  'Tis  the 
fortune  of  war.  Art  mad  ?  " 

He  tried  to  shake  her  off  as  he  spoke,  and  there  was  murder 
in  his  eye  as  he  glanced  at  his  victim.  Still  the  girl  clung  to 
him  tighter  than  ever,  entreating  wildly — 

"  Spare  them,  sir ;  spare  them  !  For  God's  sake,  spare  them  ! 
'Tis  murder,  sheer  murder  !  They  are  helpless." 

And  all  the  while  the  stricken  wretches,  who  still  lived, 
squirmed  and  writhed  away  as  far  as  possible  from  the  knight, 
in  horrible  fear  of  the  uplifted  sword,  their  eyes  nearly  bolting 


THE  DEATH-SONG  OF  MARS.  287 

from  their  heads  in  terror.  Meantime  the  girl  had  let  go  her 
hold  on  his  arm,  but  had  seized  with  both  hands  the  hilt  of  his 
sword.  The  fearless  creature  grappled  with  him,  and  struggled 
might  and  main  to  wrest  it  from  him.  Twice  he  lifted  his  dis- 
engaged fist  as  if  to  strike  her,  then  caught  her  by  the  throat 
and  hurled  her  half  across  the  room. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE    DEATH-SONG    OF    MARS. 

ONCE  more  he  raised  his  sword  to  kill  the  stricken  men  ;  yet 
here  the  door  opened  of  a  sudden,  and  Captain  Pringle  thrust 
half  his  stunted  body  into  the  room. 

"  One  a-piece  !  "  said  he. 

In  a  moment  the  place  was  filled  with  smoke,  and  our  ears 
rang  with  two  heavy  reports.  The  first  bullet  passed  my  ear 
and  buried  itself  in  the  wall  behind,  and  the  second  struck  the 
old  knight  full  in  the  chest.  I  saw  him  tottering  when  the 
smoke  lifted.  I  ran  to  him,  and  straightway  he  fell  back  into 
my  arms,  gasping.  The  wretch  who  wrought  the  murder, 
having  fired  the  shots,  fled  without  waiting  to  remark  the  effect 
of  his  deed.  'Twas  grievous  to  see  the  old  man  as  he  lay  in 
my  arms,  coughing  and  spitting  blood  ;  whilst  I  felt  his  atten- 
uated body  all  of  a  quiver  and  tremble. 

"  Lay  me  down  flat,"  he  said  in  a  choked,  husky  voice  ;  "  I 
shall  rest  easier.  And  now  for  the  punch.  Quick,  wench, 
and  brew  it!  I  haven't  long  to  wait." 

"  Oh,  father,  you  must  not  die  !  "  she  exclaimed  in  almost 
childish  desperation,  yet  without  weeping.  Her  eyes  were  dry. 
I  could  not  bear  to  look  at  her  hard,  unearthly,  distracted  face. 

"  Of  course  I  shall  die,  wench  !  "  he  said  querulously.  "  'Tis 
the  fortune  of  war.  I  remember  old  Major  Leroux  being  struck 
in  the  same  place  before  Ruhrendorf,  and  he  had  growled  his 
last  curse  ten  minutes  afterwards.  'Tis  grand  to  die  sword  in 
hand,  though  'tis  scarce  to  my  taste  being  potted  like  a  fox  in 
a  hole.  But  I  can't  have  it  all  ways.  I  have  gained  a  glorious 
victory  this  night,  and  must  be  content  with  that.  I  would 
have  wished  to  cross  swords  wi'  you,  Ned,  my  lad,  had  I  been 
spared  a  bit  longer.  Y'are  a  damned  black  rogue,  though  a 
beautiful  fighter.  Now,  wench,  bestir  yourself  over  that  punch, 
else  I  must  cock  my  toes  with  a  thirsty  throat." 


288  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

The  dying  man  said  all  this  in  a  low  peevish  tone.  His 
daughter  did  as  she  was  bidden  in  a  dazed  way.  She  brought 
the  steaming  liquor  and  laid  it  down,  and  knelt  beside  him. 
His  eyes  lighted  at  the  sight  of  it. 

"  Say  you  will  not  die,  father  !• — oh,  say  you  will  not  die !  " 
she  begged,  with  an  impotence  that  was  pitiful  to  hear. 

"  Not  die  ?  Faith  I've  no  say  in  the  matter  !  "  he  answered, 
after  sipping  a  modicum  out  of  the  bowl. 

"  Live  sir !  Live  for  me  !  I  cannot  part  from  you.  I  can't 
let  you  go ;  I  love  you  so." 

She  flung  her  arms  madly  about  his  neck,  and  kissed  in  the 
wildest  way  his  bleeding  face. 

"  Now  then,  young  fool,  stop  that !  "  he  said.  "  I'm  done 
for  quite." 

To  prove  it,  with  violent  fingers  he  tore  away  the  soaked 
garments  from  his  wound,  and  laid  bare  his  chest,  a  mass  of 
gushing  purple. 

"  Can  you  now  understand  the  game  is  played  ?  I've  a 
couple  of  ounces  o'  solid  lead  in  my  inwards.  It's  giving  me 
devil's  delight.  I  can't  abide  it  much  longer." 

He  took  a  longer  pull  at  the  punch,  and  then  trembled  all 
over  in  a  horrid  spasm  of  pain. 

"  Here  wench,"  he  said  slowly,  and  very  composedly,  "  you 
can  give  me  one  kiss  ;  I'm  almost  done.  You've  been  a  good 
girl  in  your  way.  A  trifle  too  soft  i'  th'  heart  maybe,  and  as 
stubborn  as  a  mule,  but  I  don't  hold  you  accountable  ;  'twas  an 
accident  of  birth.  You  were  born  a  wench,  d'ye  see.  You've 
been  an  eyesore  to  me.  You've  no  pluck  ;  but  as  you're  a 
girl,  you're  hardly  to  blame.  P'raps  I've  been  a  bit  hard  on 
you  at  times,  but  I'm  not  so  young  as  I  used  to  be.  Maybe  I 
have  done  things  to  you  I  ought  not  to  have  done  to  a  wench, 
but  the  gout  hath  been  mortal  bad  very  often.  I've  ever  meant 
well  by  thee ;  'tis  only  my  way.  I  say  again  thou  hast  been  a 
good  lass.  Come,  another  kiss.  How  soft  your  lips  are  !  They 
soothe  me,  so  kiss  me  once  more  for  the  last.  If  y'are  so  set 
against  young  Raoul  de  Crois,  I  will  waive  the  matter.  I  would 
I  might  commit  you  to  the  care  of  some  friend  ;  I  should  then 
bide  easier,  for  these  are  hard  times  for  lonely  gentlewomen. 
You  have  a  sneaking  likeness  for  that  Black  Ned.  Come  hither, 
sir!  Y'are  a  damned  bad,  deceitful,  purse-snatching  thief,  and 
I  curse  you.  But  still  y'are  fine  at  the  wielding  o'  the  steel.  It 
crosses  my  mind  that  ye  have  the  impudence  to  cast  an  eye 
towards  this  wench.  But  you  shan't  have  her  !  Mark  me  !- 
you  shan't  have  her  !  We'll  have  no  common  cutpurses  in  this 


THE  DEA  TH-SONG  OF  MARS.  289 

family.  She  may  be  a  white-livered  wench,  but  she's  a  daughter 
of  mine  and  one  Marvin,  and  she,  a  woman,  is  far  too  good  for 
a  million  thieves.  Dorothy,  I'd  like  you  to  have  De  Crois  ;  he's 
all  a  swordsman.  As  for  Ned  here,  he  knows  how  to  fight. 
My  lad,  ye  have  courage  and  a  notion  of  the  art  of  fence,  but 
do  not  leave  your  wrist  so  open,  and  give  not  undue  prominence 
to  the  edge.  'Tis  the  point  you  should  rely  oh.  I'm  sorry  I 
didn't  live  to  see  you  hang,  and  sorrier  still  that  I've  not  had 
time  to  put  a  hole  in  your  heart.  Wench,  more  punch  !  " 

Gradually  as  he  spoke  his  voice  became  weaker  and  more 
feeble,  till  at  last  it  died  away  in  a  whisper.  After  this  strange 
farewell,  he  clutched  with  twitching  fingers  at  the  bowl,  took  a 
draught,  and  in  a  loud,  unsteady  tone  he  once  more  bade  Dorothy 
kiss  him.  She  did  so,  and  then  another  spasm  of  agony  seized 
him,  and  contorted  his  body.  He  lay  there  a  hideous,  writhing 
figure,  and  as  the  torment  took  a  firmer  hold  upon  him,  he  beat 
his  fists  about,  and  poured  the  punch  down  his  throat  without 
intermission.  The  fumes  and  the  pain  took  effect  on  his  head, 
and  his  reason  went. 

He  screamed  out  hoarsely,  "  My  lads,  a  slack  rein  and  a 
bloody  heel  !  After  the  crop-eared  rogues  !  Slice  'em  down  ; 
and  no  quarter  !  Now  charge  all  together — saddle-bow  to  saddle- 
bow, and  knee  to  knee  !  See,  they're  running  !  Your  Highness, 
'twere  best  to  cut  'em  off  on  the  left,  and  take  'em  by  the  river. 
Down  wi'  every  Puritan  dog  among  them.  Hurrah  for  the  King 
and  Prince  Rupert !  'Tis  victory  !  victory  ! — a  great  and  glorious 
victory,  your  Highness  !  " 

Then  the  madman  pitched  his  voice  still  higher  and  roared 
out — 

"  Up  wi'  your  cups  to  King  Charlie  ! 
We  pledge " 

'Twas  his  last  word.  A  gush  of  blood  sprang  up  in  his  throat 
and  choked  him.  He  shot  out  his  limbs,  and  stared  with  his 
one  glassy  eyeball  up  at  the  ceiling — stone  dead. 


290  MIS 'TK ESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE    FLIGHT  OVER   THE   HILLS    IN    THE    DARKNESS. 

THE  knight  had  scarce  drawn  his  final  breath  when  Martin, 
the  groom,  returned  from  Bridgwater  to  find  his  master  dead. 
He  had  served  with  Sir  Nicholas  in  more  than  one  campaign, 
and  the  fellow  blubbered  miserably  over  the  brave  departed 
spirit.  Between  us  we  reverently  covered  up  the  lifeless  body 
in  a  cloth,  and  bore  it  out  into  the  grounds  to  its  final  resting- 
place.  Dorothy  followed  behind  us,  carrying  her  dead  sire's 
dripping  sword.  With  dreadful  calmness  she  pointed  out  the 
spot  he  was  to  lie  in,  and  stood  by  white  and  listless  whilst  we 
dug  the  grave. 

In  half  an  hour  we  had  it  prepared  ;  tho'  ere  \ve  could  lower 
the  corpse  into  it,  the  maid  had  knelt  beside  the  body,  had 
gently  laid  the  sword  on  its  owner's  breast,  and  had  kissed  the 
cold  lips  silently  and  without  a  tear.  Then  she  looked  at  me 
and  whispered  huskily — 

"  He  would  have  liked  it  thus  to  lie  with  him,  that  none  might 
sully  its  fair  fame.  " 

As  we  filled  in  the  first  sods  she  turned  her  head  away,  as 
though  the  sight  was  beyond  her  strength  to  bear ;  and  when 
our  task  was  done,  she  leaned  her  weight  on  me,  almost  in- 
capable of  standing. 

Very  slowly  I  led  her  back  to  the  house,  with  Martin  at  my 
heels,  and  all  the  way  she  had  neither  words  nor  tears.  Indeed 
nothing  but  a  dry-eyed  grief — a  grief  that  had  cut  her  down. 

Upon  returning  to  that  slaughter-house  of  a  room,  the  first 
things  to  .meet  our  gaze  were  three  dead  men  extended  stark 
upon  the  carpet  and  three  wounded  lying  in  blotches  of  blood 
around  them.  Two  of  these  latter  were  sitting  up,  limp,  woe-be- 
gone,  and  weakly,  and  groaning  so  in  their  agony  that  it  irked 
one's  ears  to  hear  them.  Whether  'twas  such  sounds  or  the 
sight  of  me  that  touched  her,  sure  I  cannot  tell  ;  yet  quite  sud- 
denly something  of  the  old  brightness  came  into  her  eyes,  and 
straightway  she  ceased  her  lethargy.  Methought  she  gave  a 
look  at  me  as  though  fearful  of  my  reproaches ;  then  hastily 
made  for  the  kitchen  below-stairs,  where  all  the  female  servants 
were  huddled  trembling  in  a  corner. 


THE  FLIGHT  OVER   THE  HILLS  IN  THE  DARKNESS.     291 

In  a  short  time  she  came  back  staggering  under  the  load  of 
a  large  tray,  which  she  set  on  the  top  of  the  cabinet.  It  con- 
tained a  pitcher  of  warm  water,  bandages,  cordials,  some  kind 
of  balsam,  and  ajar  of  green  usquebaugh.  Luckily  my  wounds 
were  scarce  aught  to  speak  of,  though  some  havoc  had  been 
played  with  the  flesh  of  my  sword-arm  by  several  imperfectly 
parried  thrusts.  So  soaked  with  blood  were  my  shirt  and  coat- 
sleeves,  that  to  draw  them  away  from  the  arm  itself  was  an  impos- 
sibility. Therefore  my  succorer  took  a  knife  and  carefully  cut 
the  limp  rag  away  therefrom,  and  revealed  the  bare  limb,  and 
'twas  not  an  agreeable  sight.  Indeed,  had  it  been  any  one  else's 
arm  it  would  have  given  even  me  a  qualm  to  have  looked  at  it, 
for  the  half-clotted  blood  covered  it  in  a  horrible  dark  purple 
mass. 

I  watched  the  maid,  and  saw  her  go  a  shade  the  paler,  whilst 
her  fingers  hung  involuntarily  aloof  from  the  nasty  mess  of 
flesh  and  blood.  Yet  even  as  I  saw  this,  something  like  a  swift 
emotion  shot  across  her  face,  and  by  the  look  of  her  eyes  I  knew 
it  meant  a  resolution.  She  seized  the  injured  member,  quickly 
and  almost  roughly,  as  though  afraid  of  her  will  being  beaten  by 
a  natural  instinct.  Swiftly  and  tenderly,  with  soothing  merciful 
hands,  she  bathed  the  wounds  with  warm  water,  and  freed  them 
from  the  blood,  and  stanched  the  bleeding.  And  though  her 
sympathetic  fingers  were  soiled  and  smeared  with  my  unworthy 
gore,  and  though  its  aspect  was  so  evidently  repugnant,  she 
performed  her  task  with  even  more  than  woman's  tenderness. 
My  scathes  being  disturbed,  they  began  to  smart  and  ache,  no 
doubt  by  contact  with  the  water. 

But  I  didn't  wince ;  neither  did  I  mean  to  do.  And,  in  de- 
spite of  pain  and  unwholesome  sights,  I  had  it  in  my  heart  to 
wish  that  my  other  arm  was  quite  as  badly  injured.  For  such 
was  the  delicacy  of  her  touch,  the  deftness,  the  skilfulness,  and 
the  caressing  gentleness  of  her  finger-tips,  that  they  seemed  to 
speak  to  me  more  plainly  than  aught  else  could  have  done.  When 
the  hurts  had  been  thoroughly  bathed  and  cleansed,  and  as  she 
was  about  to  fix  the  bandages,  I  asked  quite  boldy,  "  Where's 
the  balsam,  Dorothy  ?  " 

She  looked  at  me  as  if  fearful  of  giving  offence  by  disparag- 
ing my  endurance.  However,  once  more  humanity  was  too 
much  for  woman's  delicacy,  and  she  answered  with  a  world  of 
meaning  in  her  voice,  "  'Twill  hurt  very  much,  Ned  ;  very  much 
indeed,  dear  lad  !  " 

Still  I  was  resolute,  so  she  handed  me  the  balsam  that  I 
might  apply  it,  shrinking  from  the  task  herself,  for  'twas  not  in 


292  A/SSTAESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

her  nature  to  wantonly  give  pain  in  cold  blood  either  to  man  or 
animal.  Call  me  fool,  call  me  charlatan  !  either  one  or  t'other, 
if  ye  are  so  minded,  kinsmen  ;  yet  I  most  certainly  rubbed  that 
balsam  into  the  flesh,  before  her  eyes,  not  carefully,  nor  ten- 
derly, nor  to  the  extent  of  a  few  drops  only.  No,  I  gave  my  arm 
a  liberal  quantity,  smartly  administered.  And  when  my  love 
began  to  wind  the  white  cloths  neatly  round  my  injuries,  she 
whispered — 

"  Ned,  I  dare  not  have  done  that  to  myself,  nor  have  let 
others  do  it  for  me  ;  "  and  she  shook  her  head,  sighed  "  Ugh  !" 
and  shivered. 

The  darling!  of  course  she  couldn't;  I  knew  she  couldn't, 
and  for  that  self-same  reason  I  had  applied  it  before  her  eyes 
to  duly  impress  certain  things  upon  her  recollection.  Howbeit, 
very  shortly,  that  right  arm  of  mine  began  to  smart,  and  then 
to  burn,  then  to  sting,  then  to  bite,  and  then  to  do  these  things 
together.  I  set  my  teeth,  and  tried  to  bear  it,  because  Dorothy 
every  now  and  then  peeped  over  her  shoulder  to  look  at  me.  I 
strove,  Heaven  knows  how  hard,  to  support  the  torture  without 
even  winking.  Yet  the  horrid  pains  began  shooting  as  far  as 
my  armpit,  and  to  execute  wild  vertigoes  of  torment,  like  devil's 
dances  all  the  way  up  the  injured  member  ;  till  verily  methought 
I  must  faint  with  agony.  But  I  ground  my  teeth  the  harder 
into  my  lower  jaw,  and  gripped  the  palm  of  my  other  hand  till 
the  nails  cut  the  flesh.  Were  those  awful  pangs  ne'er  going  to 
abate  ?  Apparently  not  at  present,  for  the  sweat  came  out  on 
my  forehead,  and  the  convulsive  spasms  crept  half-way  up  my 
neck.  Thereupon  a  groan,  half-subdued,  but  plainly  audible, 
sneaked  out  from  somewhere,  whereat  the  maid  peeped  round 
again,  and  I  blushed  an  eloquent  scarlet.  Straightway  my 
torture  began  to  lessen  ;  and,  betwixt  ourselves,  if  ever  man 
was  properly  punished  for  folly,  presumption,  and  self-conceit, 
that  man  was  Edward  Armstrong. 

Meanwhile,  the  girl  was  for  the  time  forgetting  her  position 
in  the  world,  and  the  tragedy  of  that  terrible  night.  She  was 
busy  tending  those  of  the  fallen  who  still  breathed,  plying  the 
remedies  and  the  water  with  unceasing  vigor.  Thpugh  these 
were  her  mortal  enemies  who  had  broken  one  great  tie  of  her 
life,  she  propped  their  backs,  assuaged  their  thirst,  stanched  their 
bleeding,  bathed  their  wounds,  and  doctored  them  as  well  as 
she  was  able.  They  looked  at  her  between  the  groans  in 
suffering  yet  grateful  wonderment ;  and  one  poor  wretch  with  a 
slashed  face  and  a  swordthrust  through  his  ribs,  took  her  velvet 
hind  in  his  own  porv  fist  and  kissed  it.  Thereat  I,  Black  Ned, 


THE  FLIGHT  OVER  THE  HILLS  IN  THE  DARKNESS.     293 

seeing  this,  turned  mine  head  away,  and  for  the  first  time  since 
September,  '85,  had  wet  eyes. 

Having  accomplished  so  much  for  her  foes,  Dorothy  took  .the 
precious  documents  from  the  cabinet,  kindled  a  blaze  with  flint 
and  steel,  and  burned  them  deliberately  one  by  one.  Shortly 
after,  one  of  the  three  survivors  (the  least  injured)  set  off  for 
Bridgwater  to  bring  help  for  his  comrades,  and  for  assistance 
to  bear  away  the  dead.  'Twas  no  time  for  tarrying  now.  In 
little  more  than  an  hour  reinforcements  would  be  at  the  manor, 
and  'twould  be  a  particularly  serious  matter  for  us  if  we  were 
discovered  here. 

"  Dorothy,"  I  said,  and  then  stopped  suddenly.  The  maid 
had  re-assumed  her  listlessness  and  dry-eyed  misery,  while  hard 
lines  seemed  to  have  gathered  on  her  face,  and  to  have  shorn 
away  her  youthful  beauty.  All  this  went  to  my  heart  at  once, 
and  stopped  my  tongue  ;  though  my  wits,  and  I  am  proud  to 
say  they  were  indubitably  keen  in  this  crisis,  told  me  that  prompt 
action  alone  could  save  us.  Thus,  the  urgency  of  the  case  bade 
me  speak  my  mind  without  the  least  delay. 

"  Dorothy,"  I  said  again,  this  time  in  a  tone  of  eager  com- 
mand, "  we  must  be  hence  from  this  place,  without  one  moment's 
bootless  tarrying.  Ere  long  we  shall  have  the  whole  hornet's 
nest  about  our  ears.  Let  us  prepare  for  instant  flight! " 

She  gave  no  reply,  and  the  misery  deepened  in  her  face. 

"  Darling,"  I  said  again,  not  daunted,  but  nerved  to  greater 
efforts  by  the  pressing  anxiety  that  beset  me,  "  get  away  from 
this,  if  not  for  your  own  sake,  for  mine,  else  they  will  certainly 
arrest  you  and  convey  you  to  London,  as  an  aider  and  abettor 
of  treason.  'Twill  be  death  to  thee  then." 

Despite  my  tone  and  the  appeal  the  words  conveyed,  she  was 
still  silent,  passive,  and  lifeless.  The  blow  had  crushed  her  so 
that  she  had  now  no  care  for  the  world.  And  every  minute  we 
lingered  we  jeopardized  our  safety.  Desperation  set  my  brains 
to  work,  and  enabled  me  to  use  wiles  and  cunning. 

"  Dorothy,"  I  began  once  more,  "  you,  who  have  gone  through 
so  much,  and  have  faced  so  many  dangers,  are  not  going  to 
play  the  coward  now  ?  Come,  be  brave ;  'twould  sorely  grieve 
your  father  to  know  that  you  so  soon  forget  his  precepts." 

It  was  an  unkind  speech,  and  I  delivered  it  sharply,  and 
without  a  spark  of  softness  or  any  kind  of  sentiment.  I  even 
hated  myself  for  my  harshness,  yet  it  did  a  thousand  times 
more  good  than  mere  persuasion.  She  looked  at  me  for  few 
seconds  as  though  she  were  dazed  and  half  insensible. 

"  You  say  flee,  Ned.     But  where  am  I  to  flee  ?     I  have  no 


29 1  tf/STXESS  DOROTHY  MAR VIN. 

friend  but  thee  this  side  the  Channel,  and  thou'rt  wanting  a 
home  or  place  of  refuge.  I  feel  bereft  and  lonesome.  The 
world  seems  empty.  I  have  none  to  look  or  lean  to,  but  to  one 
that  cannot  help  me." 

It  tore  my  heart  to  hear  her  voice  so  hopeless,  and  to  see  her 
face  so  drawn  and  white.  All  the  same  her  words  were  quite 
true.  Who  was  I  to  render  aid  at  so  dire  a  moment  ?  I  was 
so  hemmed  in  by  circumstances,  that  I  seemed  really  worse 
than  useless.  But  honor,  love,  and  gratitude  called  loudly  on 
me  to  assist  her  now  the  time  of  her  need  had  come.  She  had 
nobly  succored  me  in  the  hour  of  my  adversity.  Was  I  to  fail 
in  this  cruel  hour  of  hers?  Surely  not.  Therefore,  it  befell 
that  my  mind,  in  some  strange  unaccountable  way,  suddenly  hied 
over  the  hills  to  a  little  hamlet,  to  a  woman,  a  pitying  woman, 
and  a  mother.  At  this,  I  took  my  stricken  love's  hand,  and 
warmly  said — 

"  Dorothy,  we  are  comrades.  I  will  take  thee  to  a  place  of 
refuge  from  the  anger  of  the  King,  even  as  thou  tookest  me." 

I  spoke  boldly,  and  though  nine-tenths  of  this  boldness  I  did 
not  feel,  'twas  a  very  honorable  deception  ;  for  I  sought  to  give 
her  heart  new  life,  new  hope  ;  and  in  a  measure  was  successful. 

"  Thank  you,  lad,"  she  replied,  with  just  a  spark  of  spirit. 

"  Dearest,  follow  me,  and  ere  the  dawn  you  shall  be  safe.  We 
must  be  expeditious.  Collect  your  valuables,  and  let  us  set  off 
at  once,  for  I  doubt  not  when  the  King  hath  had  his  choice 
there  will  be  little  left." 

I  threw  as  much  cheerfulness  and  energy  into  my  words  and 
gestures  as  I  could,  knowing  well  that  it  behoved  me  to  act  thus, 
to  inspire,  if  possible,  my  companion. 

She  asked  me  to  follow  her  into  another  room  in  search  of 
the  family  heirlooms  and  jewels.  She  gave  a  little  cry  when  the 
room  was  lit,  for  there  were  the  drawers  burst  open,  with  the 
unimportant  contents  strewn  about,  and  every  article  of  value 
gone.  This  was  the  full  revelation  of  the  villainy  of  Captain 
Joshua  Pringle. 

As  we  afterwards  learned,  the  knave  had  obtained,  amongst 
other  information  from  the  major  domo,  the  place  where  the 
plate  and  the  jewels  lay,  and  during  the  conflict  he  had  slipped 
out  of  the  room  and  packed  them  all  into  a  bag  which  he  slung 
over  his  horse's  back,  and  in  his  rummaging  had  discovered  two 
old  pistols  of  the  knight's.  On  going  to  his  horse  outside  he 
found  that  his  own  weapon  was  missing,  and  hearing  Sir 
Nicholas'  voice  uplifted  in  the  drinking  song,  he  knew  at  once 
that  his  men  were  beaten.  Therefore  he  charged  his  new-found 


THE  FLIGHT  OVER  THE  HILLS  IN  THE  DARKNESS.     295 

firearms,  and  determined  to  put  a  bullet  through  the  pair  of  us 
that  we  might  trouble  him  no  more,  whence  he  could  ride 
securely  off  with  the  booty,  and,  as  hath  been  seen  already,  this 
plan  was  put  in  practice. 

Our  discovery  was  still  another  blow  to  the  unlucky  creature, 
tho'  she  bore  it  in  silence.  She  sought  for  every  piece  of  money 
she  could  find,  and  having  gathered  it  together,  she  wrapped 
herself  in  a  cloak,  and  leaving  Martin  in  charge  (he  was  an 
honest  man,  though  a  cantankerous  one),  we  set  off  for  Chilver- 
ley  farm. 

I  was  perfectly  easy  in  my  mind  as  to  how  mother  would 
receive  the  fugitive.  I  never  lacked  faith  in  her  bounty  or  her 
largeness  of  heart.  As  for  myself,  the  pursuit  was  bound  to 
slacken  for  some  little  time,  seeing  how  sorely  the  night's  work 
had  crippled  the  King's  men.  We  were  a  pair  of  fugitives 
together  now,  both  fleeing  from  the  King's  justice  ;  although  I 
am  sure  the  offences  of  one  of  us  were  not  particularly  heinous. 
She  had  shared  the  conspirator's  secret -and  had  defended  his 
papers,  but  both  of  us  were  too  well  aware  the  King  would  not 
now  let  the  matter  rest. 

'Tis  strange  how  the  events  of  life  sometimes  befall.  'Twas 
now  my  turn  to  play  the  part  of  friend  and  succorer.  'Twas  I 
who  was  leading  her  to  the  place  of  refuge  this  time.  I  knew 
I  had  but  to  tell  the  maid's  story  to  mother,  and  she  would  be 
taken  to  her  heart  at  once.  My  mother's  charity  towards  her 
fellow-creatures  was  boundless,  if  her  heart  was  only  touched 
by  their  sufferings  or  misfortunes.  All  the  way  the  maid  was 
dumb  ;  her  spirits  drooped  ;  the  joys  of  life  and  hope  with  her 
were  dead.  She  asked  no  questions  ;  but  simply  followed,  very 
listless.  I  wished  ten  times  to  myself  that  she  would  weep. 
'Twas  this  hard  unyielding  grief  that  made  me  so  mistrustful ; 
women  should  weep  when  the  cup  of  sorrow  is  so  full. 

I  walked  with  quick  footsteps,  hoping  to  rouse  her  somewhat 
thereby  and  drive  away  her  apathy.  'Twas  a  vain  hope,  how- 
ever, though  she  kept  pace  with  me  in  despite  of  everything. 
The  propitious  moon  lighted  the  track  all  the  way,  wherefore 
we  made  fine  progress  among  the  hills,  overcoming  the  dangers 
of  the  broken  paths,  and  fording  the  little  streams  at  the  shal- 
low places  by  hopping  from  one  boulder  to  another  till  we 
gained  the  farther  side.  The  night  was  mild  and  bright,  with  a 
soft  fragrant  south  wind  astir  which  felt  generous  to  our  faces. 
None  knew  the  hills  better  than  I ;  therefore,  under  my  guid- 
ance, we  ne'er  swerved  from  the  direct  road.  Yet  it  was  a 
rugged,  broken,  precipitous,  and  difficult  track.  One  moment 


296  MISTRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VIM 

we  found  ourselves  deep  down  in  a  wooded  combe,  dark  and 
close  grown,  with  an  eager  runnel  burrowing  its  course  betwixt 
the  oaks,  and  flowing  with  a  soothing  song  over  the  stones  in 
its  bed;  whilst  as  we  made  our  way  by  the  margin  of  the  rising, 
falling  water,  with  its  gentle  swish  for  company,  rats  scuttled 
away  from  our  feet  and  rustled  into  the  stream.  On  the  other 
bank  a  gaunt  heron  stalked  past  with  a  silent  lassitude  instead 
of  the  water  ousel  which  lingers  here  by  day  ;  and  we  heard  the 
sweet  soft  pleading  of  the  willow  wren,  harmonious  with  the 
summer  wind  whispering  to  the  branches.  Passing  under  the 
clustered  oak-boughs,  they  casting  their  black  shadows  in  the 
track,  we  crossed  the  red,  flat  river  stones  and  rose  toward  the 
imperious  heights  gloomy  and  grand  in  the  moonlight ;  desert- 
ing in  our  upward  passage  beeches  and  the  mountain  ash,  till 
they  looked  blurred  masses  in  the  vale.  Soon  we  felt  the  bend- 
ing red-brown  heather,  heavy  laden  with  the  dew,  mingling  with 
our  legs;  and  though  we  rose  so  high,  and  overlooked  the  misty 
valleys,  our  journey's  end  lay  not  there.  We  clambered  clown 
again  and  crossed  another  stream  in  close  pursuance  of  the 
path,  till  we  turned  into  a  straighter  road,  and  five  minutes 
after  were  standing  under  the  farmstead  windows. 

The  dawn  had  not  come  yet,  and  showed  no  sign  of  its 
arrival ;  whilst  the  house  was  clothed  in  barren  stillness.  All 
were  a-bed  within  those  four  walls.  I  could  only  think  of 
one  mode  of  obtaining  admittance  for  the  two  of  us,  and  of 
gaining  mother's  private  ear ;  and  surely  both  were  very 
necessary. 

"  Dearest,"  I  said,  "  we  cannot  stay  here  in  the  open  till  the 
doors  are  unbarred.  Let  me  leave  you  here  a  few  minutes, 
whilst  I  get  matters  amended." 

She  consented  to  await  my  return,  not  at  all  frightened  to  be 
left  alone.  I  went  round  the  house  and  stopped  under  the 
window  of  my  old  chamber.  With  a  spring  I  alighted  on  the 
sill  of  the  window  underneath,  and  with  another,  begat  of  long 
practice  aforetime,  clambered  on  to  that  of  the  one  above.  In 
two  minutes  I  had  made  a  noiseless  entrance  through  this 
upper  one  into  my  deserted  room.  From  thence  I  betook  my- 
self to  mother's  apartment  stealthily,  being  fearful  of  arousing 
the  other  inmates.  To  my  joy  I  found  the  door  unfastened 
and  the  blind  drawn  up.  Thus  the  chamber  was  as  light  as 
day  almost,  by  reason  of  the  streaming  moonlight. 

"  Mother,"  I  said,  laying  a  hand  on  the  sleeper's  shoulder, 
"  waken,  I  pray  you." 

She  started  under  my  touch,  opened  her  eyes,  and  shivered. 


THE  FLIGHT  OVER  THE  HILLS  IN  THE  DARKNESS.     297 

"  Ned,  Ned,  is  it  you  ?  Is  it  my  poor  boy  ?  What  do  you 
here  at  this  hour  of  the  night  ?  Whence  have  you  come  ?  " 

She  asked  this  apprehensively,  and  with  the  aid  of  the  white 
moonbeams  I  saw  her  frightened  face.  I  reassured  her  as  well 
and  as  quickly  as  I  could,  for  I  was  mindful  of  my  waiting 
companion.  Regarding  Dorothy,  I  only  told  her  in  as  many 
words  what  the  maid  had  done  for  me  ;  and  what  I  now  wished 
to  do  for  her;  that  she  had  ne'er  known  a  mother,  and  that 
very  night  she  had  lost  her  only  protector.  No  sooner  was  this 
briefly  narrated,  than  mother  made  me  go  down  without  further 
tarrying  and  let  the  hapless  maid  in  ;  saying  she  herself  would 
dress  the  while  and  come  down  to  welcome  her. 

I  descended  into  the  kitchen,  withdrew  the  bolts,  turned  the 
key,  and  stepped  out  to  fetch  the  maiden. 

"  Here,  darling,"  I  said,  with  a  laugh,  though  a  deceitful  one, 
"  I  have  done  well,  as  I  have  returned  through  the  -doorway 
instead  of  the  window.  Wilt  follow  me  in  ?  Mother  will  be 
downstairs  to  greet  you  in  a  minute." 

"Thou  art  truly  kind,  Ned,"  she  answered,  giving  me  a  cold 
hand,  "  and  I  thank  thee  for  what  thou  hast  done  for  me  this 
night." 

She  came  with  me  into  the  kitchen,  and,  placing  her  in  a 
chair,  I  raised  a  light,  just  as  mother  came  down  the  stairs. 
In  a  look  she  beheld  her  white  wan  face,  and  her  eyes  with  the 
horror  in  them.  Thereat  she  acted  according  to  my  presenti- 
ment. Though  she  had  ne'er  set  eyes  on  the  hapless  maid  be- 
fore, she  walked  straight  to  where  she  sat,  timid,  miserable, 
silent ;  took  both  her  hands  in  hers  and  kissed  her. 

"  My  poor  girl ! "  she  said.  Dorothy  gave  an  almost 
frightened  glance  at  mother  ;  she  had  not  known  such  gentle- 
ness before,  and  did  not  expect  it  now.  "  Ay,  but  your  hands 
are  like  ice,  dear,  and  your  face  is  whiter  than  a  ghost's,"  quoth 
mother,  in  her  true  maternal  manner. 

Forthwith  she  set  about  remedying  the  maid's  misfortunes. 
She  bade  me  go  and  fetch  the  dryest  logs  I  could  find  in  the 
wood-shed ;  and  when  I  came  back  with  a  huge  armful,  she  had 
me  down  on  my  knees  building  a  new  fire  in  the  grate  whilst 
she  prepared  a  cordial. 

In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  a  steaming  basin  of  milk  was  prepared, 
and  while  the  girl  sipped  it  mother  chafed  her  lifeless  hands. 
Another  quarter  of  an  hour  and  she  had  seen  her  in  a  freshly 
ordered  bed.  Hereafter,  she  came  downstairs  and  set  out  a 
rare  repast  for  me.  The  occasion  demanded  that  I  should  tell 
mother  all  the  events  which  had  brought  about  our  nocturnal 


298  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

visit.  'Twas  a  long  story,  told  truthfully,  ay,  so  truthfully  that 
I  e'en  touched  on  the  feelings  we  bore  toward  one  another. 
Mother's  heart  was  moved  by  Dorothy's  cruel  misfortunes. 

"  Poor  girl  !  poor  girl  !  Ned,  I  am  glad  indeed  you  have 
brought  her  to  me,"  she  said,  when  I  had  told  the  story.  "  And 
I  owe  her  more  than  I  can  ever  repay !  'Tis  her  alone  I  must 
thank  for  having  you  still  alive." 

"I  am  sore  afeared  this  blow  hath  crushed  her,  mother.  She 
seems  listless  and  broken,  i  have  never  seen  her  so  before," 
I  said. 

This  she  would  not  have  for  a  moment.  'Twas  self-evident 
that  the  fugitive  had  gone  direct  to  her  heart,  and,  God  knows, 
it  was  a  large  one  and  a  warm  one. 

We  talked  for  nearly  an  hour  together.  I  even  unfolded  the 
plot  for  the  downfall  of  King  James,  and  as  I  spoke  I  realized 
myself  what  success  in  the  matter  meant.  My  whole  life  hinged 
on  William's  coming,  and  I  made  that  clear  to  mother.  The 
dethronement  of  the  Stuart  implied  liberty,  free  citizenship, 
money,  land,  title,  and  revenge  for  me,  and  for  the  one  I  loved 
it  embraced  the  same,  save  that  I  had  yet  to  learn  that  she 
cherished  aught  so  dark  and  unholy  as  revenge.  Alas  !  7  did, 
and  with  a  grim,  horrible  intensity.  The  degrading  passion 
smouldered  in  my  soul,  ate  deep  into  it,  and  in  a  sense,  thereby 
reduced  me  to  a  monomaniac. 

We  were  still  talking  when  John  came  downstairs  to  begin 
the  day's  labor.  He  stared  stupidly  as  he  discovered  us  sitting 
in  the  kitchen  ;  yet,  recovering  at  once  from  the  first  shock  of 
surprise,  he  put  on  his  boots,  and  without  giving  me  one  look  or 
word,  went  forth  to  the  fields.  That  hurt  me  more  than  a  blow 
from  his  hammerlike  fist  would  have  done. 

I  was  now  able  to  breathe  for  a  time  with  more  freedom  ; 
knowing  the  bloody  work  of  the  previous  night  had  sorely  crippled 
my  hunters  ;  therefore,  I  rested  undisturbed  on  a  feather-bed 
for  the  first  time  for  many  days,  and  'twas  delicious. 

After  a  few  hours'  sleep,  and  my  wounds  giving  scarce  any 
trouble,  I  rose,  dressed  myself,  went  downstairs,  and  found 
mother  busy  compounding  a  sovereign  remedy ;  and  the  sight 
of  her  face  stopped  questions  for  the  moment,  for,  in  equal  parts, 
it  bespoke  excessive  care  and  excessive  gravity. 


THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW.  299 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

THE   VALLEY   OF   THE   SHADOW. 

WHEN  I  saw  her  countenance  so  full  of  unwelcome  import, 
rny  heart  leaped  unbidden  up  into  my  throat,  and  then,  as  it 
were,  just  as  suddenly  dropped  down  below  its  normal  depth. 

"  How's  Dorothy,  mother  ? "  I  asked. 

Thereat  she  turned  towards  me,  and  I  saw  her  eyes  were  wet. 

"1  do  not  like  her  looks  at  all,  Ned.  I — I'm  almost  afraid 
she  is  going  to  be  very  ill." 

"  Say  not  so,"  I  said  feebly,  childishly,  like  one  who  fain  would 
postpone  a  descending  blow,  though  quite  sure  it  must  descend. 

Just  then  my  brother  John  came  down  the  stairs  on  tiptoe, 
though — as  if  to  flout  his  care — his  boots -squeaked  and  creaked 
at  every  step.  He  was  dressed  much  above  his  week-day  custom. 
Indeed,  he  was  habited  in  his  Sunday  coat  and  hat,  and  carried 
a  whipstock  in  his  hand. 

"  Where's  he  bound  for,  mother  ? "  I  asked  as  he  passed 
through  the  kitchen  door  into  the  yard.  I  did  not  dare  to  address 
this  question  to  him  in  person,  for  he  treated  me,  not  as  a  fallen 
angel — as  he  might  have  done — but  as  a  base  creature,  some- 
thing meaner  than  the  dirt  he  trampled  underfoot. 

"  He  hath  gone  to  fetch  the  doctor,"  replied  mother. 

Gone  to  fetch  the  doctor  !  'Tis  a  harsh  plaintive  sentence 
that  hath  struck  deep  into  the  hearts  of  many  families. 

"  Is  her  malady  so  dangerous,  then  ?  "  I  asked,  full  of  fear. 

"  It  begins  to  frighten  me,  Ned.  A  delirium  hath  seized  her, 
and  it  grows  hour  by  hour,  her  heartbeats  faster  and  faster,  and 
her  eyes  are  becoming  terrible  to  look  at." 

"  Oh,  mother ! "  I  gasped,  my  heart  fluttering  in  a  most  un- 
reasonable manner.  I  asked  to  see  her.  Mother  peremptorily 
refused  this  request ;  but  I  begged  so  hard  and  so  persistently 
that,  in  the  end,  she  was  not  proof  against  my  importunity. 

No  sooner  was  the  tardy  permission  granted,  than  she  led 
me  to  her  room.  She  opened  the  bedroom  door  and  marched 
in  before  me,  just  the  least  little  bit  in  the  world  officiously. 
The  blinds  were  drawn,  though  'twas  midday  and  gloriously 
sunny.  I  came  to  the  bedside,  and,  in  the  subdued  light  of 
the  darkened  room,  I  saw  my  darling  lying  prone  and  racked 
with  fever.  Her  cheeks  were  hectic,  her  eyes  full  of  horror,  and 


300  MISTRESS  DOKO THY  MA  K  VIN. 

unnaturally  bright  and  restless  ;  whilst  the  dark  forest  of  her 
hair  had  become  so  dishevelled  that  it  hung  low  down  over  her 
forehead,  and,  with  these  other  things,  made  her  appear  so 
strange  and  wild  that,  at  first,  I  did  not  like  to  look  at  her.  Al- 
beit she  looked  at  me — stared  straight  at  me  with  those  eyes 
that  were  now  filled  with  a  vague  terror ;  and  that  were  per- 
petually roving.  Still  she  gave  me  no  glance  of  recognition, 
not  a  solitary  feature  moved  by  way  of  welcome,  nor  did  she 
smile,  nor  speak  a  single  coherent  syllable,  but  muttered  a  host 
of  words  rapidly  under  her  breath,  so  that  none  heard  them. 

"  Dorothy,"  I  said  softly,  to  make  her  speak  to  me. 

Again  she  stared  straight  at  me,  and  then  broke  out  suddenly 
in  a  high,  quick  voice — 

"Their  eyes,  their  eyes;  see  their  eyes!  Those  are  not 
men's  eyes — they  are  devils'  eyes.  Ho,  ho,  ho  !  the  blood  !  the 
blood  !  All  on  the  walls — the  blood  on  the  walls  !  And  their 
eyes ;  dear  God,  their  eyes !  " 

Again  she  began  to  mutter  incoherently,  and  stretched  out 
her  hand  to  Betty,  who  had  been  by  her  side  for  several  hours. 
To  me  she  gave  not  the  slightest  heed,  whereupon  the  truth 
dawned  on  my  slow  understanding.  She  did  not  know  me ; 
my  heart  turned  like  ice  in  my  inside  to  think  that  we  had  gone 
through  so  much  together,  and  had  endured  and  loved  one 
another  so  continually.  Verily,  'twas  very  hard  ;  and  this  one 
stern  act  of  nature  cut  me  to  the  quick.  Suddenly  the  sufferer 
sat  up  in  bed,  and  thrust  one  ringer  towards  me  wildly.  And 
though  Betty  had  her  hands  upon  her  in  an  instant,  and  said, 
"  There,  dear  !  "  soothingly,  and  endeavored  to  put  her  head 
back  on  the  pillow,  she  failed,  by  virtue  of  Dorothy's  stout 
resistance. 

"That's  Black  Ned  !  "  she  cried  ;  "  he  says  his  name  is  Mas- 
ter Jackson.  He  is  not  Master  Jackson.  He  is  a  thief — a 
thief,  I  tell  you.  Dost  hear?  That's  Black  Ned.  I  have  been 
deceived.  He's  not  honest ;  not  an  honorable  man  —  he  says 
he  is  not.  I've  been  tricked  and  cheated,  tricked  and  cheated  ! 
He  carried  the  letter  to  Lord  Churchill.  Master  Armstrong 
carried  it  thither — no,  Black  Ned,  the  highwayman.  I  am  de- 
ceived, duped,  cheated!  The  man's  a  thief.  I  know  he's  a 
thief !  Kill  him,  then,  dear  father,  kill  him !  Curse  the 
wretch,  I  loathe  him  !  " 

She  fell  into  a  state  of  frenzy,  and  wrestled  with  her  nurses ; 
and  all  the  time  her  wild  eyes  ne'er  left  me.  In  my  shame  and 
horror,  I  was  struck  stupid  at  the  outset,  and  clutched  hold  of 
the  wooden  bedpost  for  support. 


THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW.  301 

My  mother  and  sister  each  shot  a  furtive  glance  at  my  face, 
and  saw  that  in  it  which  made  them  avert  their  gaze.  I  could 
feel  myself  looking  guilty.  'Twould  have  been  a  crowning 
mercy  had  the  floor  opened  and  swallowed  me  as  I  stood,  for 
this  awful  advertisement  of  my  infamy  crushed  me,  felled  me, 
stunned  me  ! 

Good  God  !  was  she  ne'er  going  to  cease  her  terrible  words  ? 
Were  her  eyes  ne'er  to  leave  my  face  ?  The  blood  in  my  veins 
was  chilled,  whilst  shame  burned  itself  upon  my  heart.  In  the 
end,  I  managed  to  stagger  mechanically  from  the  room.  Would 
to  Heaven  I  had  not  set  foot  therein  !  The  whole  truth  of  the 
matter  was  that,  for  weeks,  I  had  well-nigh  forgotten  that  dark 
episode  of  the  past ;  forgotten  it,  in  my  youthful  bliss  and 
rapture. 

Man  may  make  history,  tho'  he  cannot  unmake  it  afterwards. 
He  may  forget  it  for  his  own  part,  yet  he  may  hot  wipe  out  the 
printed  page,  and  blot  it  for  ever  from  the  sight  of  posterity  as 
though  it  had  ne'er  been  written.  So  with  his  sins.  He  may 
commit  them  in  his  youth,  and  forget  them  till  old  age,  but,  in 
the  mean  time,  the  world  at  large  has  them  all  by  heart,  and 
hands  them  down  to  future  generations.  'Twas  appalling  to 
think  that  the  revelation  had  been  made  to  mine  own  flesh  and 
blood  ;  and  to  conceive  how  they,  kind  souls,  must  view  me — 
not  as  a  mere  thief  by  force  of  circumstances,  but  as  a  trickster, 
a  liar,  a  cheat,  and  deceiver  of  an  innocent  maiden  ! 

"  Curse  you,  Ned  Armstrong !  "  I  growled  to  myself  ;  then 
walked  up  and  down  our  deserted  kitchen  almost  frantic.  How 
must  I  seem  to  my  mother  and  sister  upstairs  ?  They  who  had 
borne  so  much,  would  they  now  abhor  me  ? 

At  the  height  of  this  inward  disturbance,  mother  came 
downstairs  to  fetch  a  medicine.  I  seized  her  hand  like  one 
possessed,  and  said  with  a  rush  of  words — 

"  Mother,  all  thou  hast  heard  is  true.  And  that  maid  loves 
me  in  spite  of  it.  Canst  thou  love  me,  too,  in  spite  of  it  ? " 

Without  a  moment's  hesitation  she  kissed  me  deliberately, 
and  gently.  What  noble  creatures  women  are  !  A  weight  was 
lifted  from  my  soul.  I  had  suffered  five  minutes'  torment,  and 
this  sweet  forgiveness  was  as  a  balm  to  many  wounds. 

"Do  not  say  a  word  of  this  to  John,"  I  implored,  and  she 
readily  set  my  mind  at  ease.  Kinsmen,  he  was  not  exactly  a 
woman,  but  a  cold-blooded,  bowelless  man,  whose  iron  heel  I 
had  learnt  to  dread. 

"  Dost  think,  mother,  thou  canst  bring  her  back  to  health  ?  " 
I  inquired,  misgiving  much. 


302  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

"  It  shall  be  no  fault  of  mine  if  I  fail,  Ned.  I  have  sent  for 
Master  Cooper,  the  best  physician  in  these  parts,  to  come  and 
tend  her.  Mistress  Dorothy  hath  done  far  more  for  my  son 
than  ever  his  mother  can  do  for  her." 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  my  loved  one  had  gone  straight  to 
mother's  heart,  not  by  means  of  her  beauty,  her  bravery,  or 
her  many  virtues ;  but  simply  because  she  had  succored  me, 
a  thief,  and  trickster,  in  the  times  of  my  direst  need.  After 
this,  I  waited  in  a  state  of  high  impatience  for  the  coming  of 
the  doctor.  Of  course,  when  he  did  come,  I  had  to  keep  out 
of  his  sight,  on  account  of  my  exceeding  notoriety.  I  looked 
anxiously  and  fearfully  for  his  departure.  At  last,  perched  as 
I  was  before  my  bedroom  window,  I  saw  him  ride  away  on  his 
cob,  whereupon  I  lost  not  another  second,  but  came  down  into 
the  kitchen  and  sought  for  news.  I  found  John  therein,  put- 
ting on  his  week-day  boots,  and  I  asked  him  what  Master 
Cooper's  verdict  was. 

"  He  says  she  is  dangerously  ill,  and  will  be  wondrous  lucky 
to  get  over  it." 

I  burst  out  thereat  in  desperation,  "  Is  there  nought  I  can  do, 
bethink  you,  to  assist  mother  and  Betty  ?  Must  I  continue  to 
ramble  aimlessly  about,  not  a  farthing's  worth  of  service  to 
Dorothy  or  her  nurses  ?  " 

"  Nought  you  can  do  ?  "  said  he  comfortingly.  "  If  you'll 
just  be  more  of  a  man,  and  less  of  a  calf,  and  take  yourself  off  to 
the  hills  till  bedtime,  out  of  the  way  and  sight  of  all,  methinks 
that  will  be  performing  the  truest  service  you're  capable  of." 

I  acted  on  this  advice,  and  slipped  stealthily  out  of  sight  of 
the  farm  hands  to  the  hills.  'Twas  hard  to  know  that  my  love, 
and  prayers  could  not  avail  my  darling  in  the  least.  The  women 
folk,  as  usual,  had  full  sway.  'Twas  they  who  had  to  battle 
with  life  and  death.  What  use  were  my  vaunted,  manly  quali- 
ties, though  her  life  hung  in  the  balance  ?  I  wandered  about 
the  glen,  and  threw  pebbles  into  the  flowing  streams  to  kill  the 
time,  till  nightfall.  Every  minute  thus  wasted  my  brain  brooded 
continuously  on  the  chances.  Would  she  live  ?  Would  she 
die  ?  Ultimately  my  mind  was  worked  up  to  such  a  pitch  that 
I  was  frightened  to  ponder  on  the  future.  All  my  hopes  and 
cares  for  life  were  centred  on  that  maid  who  lay  grappling  with 
death.  When  dark  hour  came,  I  went  indoors,  but  with  no 
appetite  for  supper.  No  welcome  news  awaited  me.  Mother 
sighed,  and  said  she  was  afraid  my  mistress  was  no  better,  in 
fact,  a  trifle  worse  if  anything.  I  passed  a  night  of  fitful  dozing. 
Many  times  I  awoke  with  a  sense  of  great  oppression  around 


THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW.  303 

the  heart ;  and  to  wonder  how  the  fight  was  going.  And  when 
the  early  sun  rose  furtively  out  of  the  banks  of  mist  that  hung 
over  all  the  valley,  I  jumped  out  of  bed,  and  dressed  myself 
for  another  day  of  cheerless  waiting.  I  opened  the  window 
and  looked  about,  and  saw,  but  did  not  admire,  the  beauty  of 
the  prospect.  For  long  enough  I  sat  pensive,  and  filled  with 
gnawing  fears,  with  scarcely  any  hopes  to  balance  them.  Thus 
I  began  the  day  to  the  tune  of  the  humming  of  the  bees,  the 
lowing  of  the  cattle,  and  the  pangs  of  trouble  in  my  breast.  As 
I  went  forth  into  the  kitchen,  that  place  of  cold  comfort,  I  be- 
held Betty  kindling  a  light  to  burn  something  wrapped  in  paper. 
'Twas  a  thick  mass  of  black-brown  tresses,  and  rapidly  my. 
thoughts  hied  back  to  that  dismal  spring  morning  I  had  first 
set  eyes  upon  them. 

"Pretty  hair,  pretty  hair!"  I  murmured,  and  touched  it 
caressingly  with  my  fingers,  then  very  gently  with  my  lips. 

"  Fool !  "  growled  John's  great  voice  behind  me,  "  you  know 
'tis  fever-ridden  ? " 

Ay,  I  knew  right  well,  but  recked  the  less  because  of  that 
hateful  knowledge.  Meantime  Betty  gave  him  a  reproving  look, 
and  me  a  kindly  one,  for  she  had  not  guessed  this  softness  in 
my  nature.  All  that  day  I  sought  further  news  of  Dorothy's 
condition  at  frequent  intervals ;  tho'  in  no  word  was  there  any 
comfort.  As  time  wore  on,  her  strength  went  lower  and  lower, 
and  the  delirium  slowly  gave  way  to  a  kind  of  stupor.  Hourly 
the  issue  went  steadily  against  the  nurses,  whilst  gloom  en- 
thralled me.  Every  time  mother  or  Betty  came  from  the  sick 
chamber,  I  scanned  their  faces,  yet  never  gathered  one  spark 
of  comfort,  nor  did  their  tongues  provide  it. 

About  midday  I  learned  that  she  had  fallen  quite  insensible, 
and  all  through  the  afternoon  this  preyed  on  me,  and  gave  me 
a  sort  of  cold  despair.  The  doctor  did  not  come  till  the  approach 
of  evening,  and  I  had  to  keep  myself  aloof  for  a  weary  while  in 
anxious  waiting  for  his  verdict,  for  he  stayed  in  the  sick-room 
an  hour  or  more  ;  and  when  he  went  away  he  left  no  solace. 
Of  course,  immediately  he  had  gone  I  tried  to  learn  what  his 
opinions  were.  Mother  and  John  were  in  earnest  converse  as 
I  came  and  asked  for  news.  Mother  said  softly — 

"  Her  condition  does  not  improve,  Ned.  I  begin  to  have 
misgivings." 

"  Dost  think  she  will  get  better  ?  "  I  asked  dejectedly. 

"  Get  better  !  "  she  replied,  taking  me  up  sharply  ;  "  of  course 
she.  will  get  better." 

"With  all  respect  to  you,  mother,"  said  Master  John,  "the. 


304  Af/STA'KSS  DOKO  TIJ  Y  MA  A'  VIN. 

doctor  said  he  did  not  see  how  she  could  last  through  the 
night." 

"Thou  nincompoop !"  exclaimed  dear  mother  very  angrily, 
"is  not  my  word  as  good  as  any  man  o'  medicine's?  He  hath 
only  book-learning  to  go  by,  and  ne'er  sets  a  hand  to  preserve 
life,  unless  it  is  by  blood-letting,  whilst  I  assist  with  my  limbs 
and  wits.  So  'tis  for  me  to  talk  like  that  when  the  occasion 
demands  it.  Take  notice  of  me  only  in  this  matter,  Ned,  and 
not  of  the  witless  doctors."  However,  at  this  point  her  spirit 
gave  out  suddenly,  for  she  finished  by  saying,  in  a  sinking  voice, 
and  with  great  reproach  to  John,  "  You  should  not  have  told 
him  that,  you  cruel  fellow,"  and  fell  to  weeping. 

"  So  ye  call  it  cruel,"  quoth  he,  in  his  heavy  way  ;  "  hath  the 
man  gone  so  long  without  truth,  that  it  offends  his  ears  to  hear 
it  ?  If  it  is  cruelty  to  speak  in  an  honest,  straightforward 
way,  these  wonderful  new-fangled  notions  are  one  too  many  for 
my  wits.  Methinks  the  world  is  no  place  for  a  plain  man 
nowadays." 

With  the  delivery  of  this  long  (for  him)  and  wrathful  speech, 
he  strode  away  in  a  mighty  huff. 

Having  now  heard  the  worst,  I  tried  to  take  the  news  with 
resignation. 

"  If  she  must  leave  me,  mother,"  I  said,  "  let  me  see  her  for 
the  last  time  ere  she  goes." 

She  granted  my  request,  but  altogether  declined  to  accept 
Master  Cooper's  word  as  final.  But  I  knew  she  believed  the 
man  in  her  secret  heart.  Upon  coming  to  the  chamber  where 
my  mistress  lay,  methought  my  spirits  rose  a  little.  This 
admits  of  no  explanation,  unless  'twas  the  mere  sight  of  her 
was  always  enough  to  make  them  do  so.  When  I  saw  the 
white  face  on  the  white  pillow  in  the  darkened  room,  and  came 
to  think  of  all  its  owner's  former  zest  of  life,  and  sprightliness, 
and  fire,  I  could  not  keep  my  thoughts  from  the  inimitable 
smiles  that  had  flitted  across  her  face,  and  the  way  her  bosom 
had  throbbed  with  life  aforetime.  Perhaps  it  was  the  over- 
powering sense  of  these  things,  or  the  knowledge  that  she  was 
surely  going  from  me,  that  made  this  sight  the  bitterest  one 
throughout  all  the  days  of  my  adversity.  Tears  are  inadequate 
at  such  ineffable  moments,  therefore  I  bowed  my  head  to  my 
breast,  as  once  before  I  had  done  in  her  presence,  and  hastened 
to  reach  the  cool  night  air  outside  the  farmstead.  It  seemed 
to  me  that  God  had  willed  this  parting  as  a  punishment  for  my 
sins.  Wherefore  I  strove  to  bear  it  meekly,  and  to  reconcile 
my  heart  to  its  tenderest  chords  being  torn  asunder. 


THE  KING'S  MEN  TAKE  THE  FIELD  AGAIN.        305 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

THE    KING'S    MEN    TAKE   THE    FIELD   AGAIN. 

I  CANNOT  write  down  in  detail,  kinsmen,  a  full  account  of 
this  night  of  trial  and  sorrow.  This  inability  arises  from  the 
fact  that  all  minor  things  were  swallowed  up  in  one  great  catas- 
trophe. I  may  only  say  that  I  marched  up  and  down  our  fields 
and  meadow-land  from  dark  till  the  hour  of  dawn,  sometimes 
with  a  savage  hopelessness,  at  other  times  with  a  resigned  hope- 
lessness, or  far  more  often  with  a  hopelessness  neither  savage 
nor  resigned,  but  simply  stupid.  Perhaps  'twas  only  just  that 
I,  Ned  Armstrong,  thief,  should  have  the  prize  plucked  from 
my  grasp  as  I  was  cherishing  hopes  of  reaching  it.  Doubtless 
it  was  a  wise  and  beneficent  ordination,  that  a  man  should  be 
punished  according  to  his  iniquities.  Still  'twas  hard,  God 
knows,  very  hard  !  Fate,  however,  had  surely  willed  this  as  my 
penalty,  for  Master  Cooper,  in  face  of  common  opinion,  could 
not  do  wrong,  much  less  utter  wrong  in  matters  pharmaceutical. 
And  so  I  tramped  about  all  night  on  the  verge  of  desperation, 
and  always  with  an  abiding  sense  of  a  stunning  blow,  the  extent 
and  power  of  which  I  could  not  rightly  gauge. 

The  harvest  was  now  thick  upon  us,  bursting  through  the 
hedges,  ripe  and  ready  for  the  reapers.  These  thoughts  of 
harvest  time  and  reaping  recalled  the  bitter  year  of  '85,  and  I 
was  fool  enough  to  compare  their  several  depths  of  bitterness. 
Not  that  I  could  work  the  problem  out  to  any  degree  of  nicety, 
but  mainly  dwelt  thereon  because  melancholy  likes  morbidity 
to  keep  it  company.  Despite  the  fair  harvest,  I  trod  among  it 
wantonly ;  and  as  I  thought  of  the  destruction  I  was  causing,  I 
even  felt  a  devilish  pleasure  to  know  'twas  nature's  handiwork 
destroyed.  Sometimes  I  felt  the  yielding  wheat  against  my 
legs,  or  at  other  times  the  stiffer  barley  bristles  ;  and  heard  the 
gentle  music  of  the  wind  in  tender-cadenced  harmonies  as  it 
softly  swished  amid  the  ears  of  corn,  and  passed  away,  to  sigh 
along  the  valleys,  and  to  join  the  murmur  of  ever-flowing  waters. 
All  this  !  and  to  think  of  the  young  life  ebbing  slowly  behind 
the  blinds  of  the  bedroom  window  yonder. 

In  the  midst  of  my  biting  pain,  the  moon  sailed  out  of  a  bank 
of  cloud  and  flecked  it  with  tints  of  silver.  A  cloud  with  a 


306  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

silver  lining!  Yes,  /  remembered  that,  and  the  old  phrase 
seemed  to  mock  me.  How  bald,  how  barren,  are  mere  inani- 
mate words  to  the  affairs  of  life,  to  the  events  of  a  fiesh-and- 
blood  existence  !  When  the  moon  was  fairly  risen,  it  showed 
me  where  the  white  flaked  tops  of  the  oats  were  lying,  side  by 
side  with  those  of  the  rich  brown  barley.  Once  a  rabbit  brushed 
by  my  feet  and  startled  me  for  a  moment,  whilst  after  that  a 
corncrake  set  up  a  discordant  croaking,  and  gave  me  a  longing 
to  wring  its  neck. 

Still  all  these  things  lasted  a  minute  only.  They  perforce 
gave  place  to  a  white-faced  maid,  battling  with  life  and  death  ; 
one  who  had  loved  me  dearly.  I  have  said  I  had  come  to 
accept  this  as  a  settled  thing  of  Fate,  and  that  God  had  willed 
it  so.  I  strove  to  the  utmost  of  my  fortitude  to  support  the 
calculated  blow  of  the  Creator;  but  'twas  more  than  I  could 
endure.  And  what  mortal  man  could  endure  this  sudden  snap 
in  the  pride  of  life,  this  sudden  blighting  of  young  blood  ? 
Surely  not  Ned  Armstrong.  Thus  he  trampled  down  the  corn, 
and  felt  himself  abused. 

Swiftly  the  darkness  slipped  away,  yet  I  had  a  wholesome 
terror  of  the  morning.  But  when  the  first  beams  of  sunshine 
slanted  over  the  hilltops  and  made  the  limpid  streams  to  sparkle, 
I  became  a  whit  more  cheerful,  because  light  must  ever 
triumph  over  darkness.  However,  this  was  but  a  momentary 
thing,  for  as  the  east  grew  slowly  lighter,  the  old  heaviness 
returned  in  such  abundance,  that  by  the  time  the  dawn  had 
fairly  come  I  was  a  thought  more  miserable  if  such  a  thing 
could  be.  By  this  the  birds  had  set  up  a  mighty  twittering 
over  in  the  ravine,  whilst  I  could  plainly  see  the  poppies  nod- 
ding their  dainty  heads  among  the  wheat,  and  the  foxgloves 
blowing  on  the  bank  obedient  to  the  south  wind  that  gently 
tickled  them.  Howbeit  none  of  these  sweet  things  of  nature 
pierced  the  gloom  that  clung  around  my  heart,  but  only  made  me 
brood  again  on  my  bright  new  hopes  and  their  early  downfall. 

At  last  I  managed  to  grapple  sufficiently  with  terrors  to  en- 
able .me  to  put  an  end  to  my  suspense.  Therefore  I  marched 
off  with  a  firm  step  towards  the  farmstead,  to  hear  the  worst. 
Doubtless  the  terrible  struggle  between  life  and  death  had 
terminated  now,  thus  I  inwardly  braced  my  courage  up  to  bear 
the  stroke  of  the  final  disaster.  As  I  was  turning  the  corner 
that  gives  the  first  sight  of  our  house  windows,  I  sharply 
stopped,  and  felt  quite  unable  to  approach  a  step  the  nearer, 
because  1  knew  I  might  tell  at  a  glance  whether  my  love  still 
breathed,  as  according  to  custom  all  the  blinds  would  be  drawn 


THE  KING'S  MEN  TAKE  THE  FIELD  AGAIN.        307 

down  if  she  no  longer  lived.  Hereupon  I  halted,  willing  to 
bear  more  wearing  fears  instead  of  the  knowledge  of  dreadful 
truth.  However,  I  soon  overcame  this  qualm,  strode  a  few 
steps  farther,  and  took  a  hasty  glance  at  the  farmstead.  Oh, 
joy !  my  love  was  still  alive,  for  all  the  blinds  were  up,  save  in 
one  window  on  the  second  floor,  set  in  a  frame  of  the  twining 
tendrils  of  the  vine,  and  of  the  clustering  green  clematis.  I 
felt  a  thrill  of  strength  run  through  me,  and  a  new  hope  rise  in 
my  breast.  This  sight  had  proved  Master  Cooper  wrong  in 
one  particular.  But  soon  this  kind  emotion  vanished,  as  I 
really  could  not  tell  whether  the  chance  of  life  had  at  all  in- 
creased. Accordingly  I  hastened  to  the  kitchen  to  gather  the 
precise  state  of  the  sufferer. 

"  Where  have  you  been,  my  poor  boy,  this  night  ?  "  asked 
mother  with  a  grave  and  sorrowful  countenance,  and  with  a 
tearful  glance  at  my  dejected  bearing. 

I  minded  not  her  words,  'twas  her  sad  face  I  alone  paid  heed 
to.  Surely  there  could  be  no  misinterpreting  it.  Thus  I  dared 
scarcely  ask — 

"  How  lies  Dorothy  this  morning,  mother  ?  " 

"  Oh,  to  be  sure,  how  is  the  maid  ?  "  quoth  she  so  diffidently 
that  I  was  stung  at  her  unconcern. 

"  How  is  she  ?  "  I  cried  excitedly. 

''Dear,  dear,  Ned,  I  had  forgot  that  you  loved  her  so.  Well, 
she  hath  returned  to  consciousness,  and  hath  woke  quite  sen- 
sible. The  danger  is  now  past.  I  -declared  all  along  that  I 
knew  more  about  the  matter  than  Master — 

I  cut  her  words  short  by  involuntarily  flinging  myself  upon 
her  neck  and  weeping  in  an  ecstasy  of  relief.  Joy  had  burst 
down  the  floodgates  built  by  brooding  sorrow.  As  for  mother, 
no  sooner  did  she  realize  my  state  of  mind,  than  she  burst  out 
weeping  too,  to  keep  me  company.  Not  perhaps  that  the  oc- 
casion especially  demanded  tears  on  her  part,  but  because  it  is 
part  of  a  woman's  creed  never  to  let  the  chance  of  a  good  cry 
slip  by,  when  she  can  conveniently  and  decently  get  one. 

Modesty  whispers  me  to  draw  a  curtain  round  my  excessive 
happiness  this  heavenly  day,  and  to  dismiss  in  a  single  sentence 
extravagant  things  I  said  and  did.  John  viewed  it  all  in  silence, 
and  with  a  cynical  coldness,  Betty  was  wondrous  pleased  with 
it,  whilst  mother  treated  it  with  mild  surprise.  This  last-named 
person  I  took  to  task  later  in  the  day  by  virtue  of  such  cool 
behavior. 

"  I  cannot  fathom  your  calmness  in  this  matter,  mother,"  I 
said. 


308  M1STXESS  DORO  THY  MAR VIN. 

"Nay,  my  dear  boy,"  she  replied,  "  I  am  by  no  means  calm 
about  it.  I  am  glad  as  glad  can  be,  and  well  nigh  overcome 
with  thankfulness." 

"  Verily  you  astound  me,  dear  mother,"  I  answered  ;  "  you 
have  scarce  a  word  about  Dorothy's  marvellous  recovery." 

"Oh,  oh!  Mistress  Dorothy,  is  it?  Well,  who  would  have 
thought  of  it?  I  declare  I  had  clean  forgotten  all  about  her." 

"  Then  who  in  the  world  have  you  been  thinking  of  this 
glorious  day  ? " 

"Just  hearken  to  this  son  of  mine  !  What  care  I  for  all  the 
girls  in  Christendom  now  that  you  have  come  back  safe.  Me- 
thought  you  had  surely  gone  forth  last  night  to  do  yourself  an 
injury  in  your  despair." 

So  this  was  the  real  state  of  things.  It  humiliated  me  to 
know  it.  I  could  not  comprehend  why  my  dearest  mother 
should  cling  to  me  in  despite  of  everything.  Another  person 
also  shared  my  perplexity,  for  John  scowled  in  the  corner. 
This  day  I  have  treasured  up  in  my  memory  throughout  all 
these  years.  The  clinching  proof  of  the  fact  is  that  I  recollect 
the  exact  date  at  this  moment  without  help  of  memorandum. 
It  was  the  22d  of  August,  1688. 

For  all  this  joy,  I  had  another  trial  to  undergo,  though  to  be 
sure  a  most  insignificant  one  in  comparsion  with  my  former 
sorrow.  The  brave  and  skilful  nurses  now  tyrannized  over  me. 
I  was  all  eagerness  to  hold  speech  with  my  darling  now  she 
was  quite  sensible,  and  so  rapidly  mending.  But  neither  of 
them  would  hear  of  it.  Mother  laid  down  two  distinct  reasons 
why  I  should  not  see  her  yet  awhile.  First,  I  must  wait  till 
she  could  leave  her  bed  and  sit  in  her  room,  because  it  was  not 
a  proper  and  respectable  thing  that  a  man  should  visit  a  maid 
who  was  obliged  to  lie  in  bed  to  receive  him,  unless  it  was  a 
case  of  dire  necessity. 

Now,  I  would  not  hear  of  this  for  a  moment,  and  sought  to 
over-ride  it  as  paltry,  and  as  extremely  Puritanical.  Mother 
met  my  arguments  at  first  by  saying  that  "  it  did  not  become 
a  Christian  family,"  and  that  "folks  might  be  tempted  to  talk 
and  say  things."  Nevertheless,  for  my  life  I  could  not  tell 
how  "folks"  were  to  get  to  know,  and  what  they  might  say 
even  should  they  do  so.  Then  she  said  my  father  and  herself 
would  ne'er  have  dreamt  of  such  a  thing  before  they  were 
married,  and  that  the  younger  generation  was  nothing  near  so 
modest  as  it  ought  to  be,  and  finally  wound  up  with  the  old 
sn\v  "  that  wrong  was  wrong,  and  right  was  right,  but  wrong 
was  no  man's  right,"  whereat  I  was  fairly  beaten  by  the  ir- 


THE  KING'S  MEN  TAKE  THE  FIELD  AGAIN.        309 

resistible  force  of  this  feminine  logic.  The  other  reason  was 
that  the  maiden  was  barely  well  enough  to  see  me.  I  was 
obliged  to  wait  nine  days  for  the  privilege  of  a  sight  of  her; 
though  in  the  mean  time  I  had  abundant  proofs  that  her  old 
life  and  spirits  were  returning  fast.  Twice  in  one  day  her 
nurses  discovered  her  out  of  bed  clad  In  her  nightdress  only, 
gazing  wistfully  out  of  window.  And  as  I  learned  from  her 
o\vn  lips  afterwards,  the  only  inducement  that  kept  her  in  bed 
was  the  threat  that  she  should  be  debarred  from  sight  of  me  a 
a  whole  day  longer  for  every  time  she  left  it  without  permission. 
Again  mother  came  to  me  shortly  afterwards,  saying — 

"  Ned,  Mistress  Marvin  is  very  pretty,  and  very  wayward, 
and  I  shall  learn  to  love  her  thoroughly;  but  betwixt  ourselves 
she  hath  some  curious  and  most  unmaidish  notions.  Methinks 
her  education  must  have  been  a  truly  strange  one." 

"Why  so?"  I  asked  genially,  for  I  guessed  what  was  coming. 

"Well,  just  now,  for  instance,  she  asked  me  whether  we  had 
such  a  thing  about  the  house  as  a  book  with  plenty  of  battles 
in  it.  I  confess  I  was  surprised  at  the  question,  but  told  her 
we  had  worthy  Master  Bunyan's  '  Pilgrim's  Progress,'  and  that 
there  was  plenty  of  fighting  therein.  '  Oh,  that  is  only  make 
believe.  'Tis  like  playing  at  war  with  toy  warriors,  to  read  of 
that  milk-and-water  campaign,'  she  said.  '  My  dear,'  said  I,  '  'tis 
a  beautiful  book,  and  is  filled  with  the  deeds  of  noble  Christian 
soldiers.'  'Christian  soldiers,  indeed  !  '  she  replied  with  scorn. 
'  'Tis  no  wonder  the  devil's  host  gains  so  many  victories  in  this 
world,  for  these  Christian  soldiers  are  ignorant  of  all  principles 
of  war,  and  sing  hymns  and  patter  prayers  when  they  might 
more  fittingly  be  employing  their  sword-arms.  I'  faith  it  is 
quite  true  what  my  dear  papa  always  averred,  that  religion  was 
a  spur  to  courage,  but  a  detriment  to  swordsmanship.'  Then 
directly  afterwards  she  asked  Betty  whether  she  had  any 
knowledge  of  the  art  of  fence,  and  if  not  she  would  be  most 
happy  and  willing  to  teach  it  her.  Really,  Ned,  I  cannot  un- 
derstand this  maid  of  thine  at  all." 

I  simply,  laughed  at  this,  and  mightily  enjoyed  mother's  per- 
plexity. 

In  the  end  my  patient  waiting  met  with  due  reward,  for  one 
afternoon  Betty  came  to  me  smilingly,  and  whispered — 

"  Ned,  if  thou'rt  minded  to  climb  the  stairs,  methinks  I  can 
bestow  a  guerdon  upon  thee  for  thy  pains." 

In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  Edward  Armstrong  had  jumped 
from  his  chair,  trod  on  the  cat's  tail,  and  was  half-way  up  the 
stairs,  with  his  sister  following.  Soon  the  best  bedroom  door 


3  i  o  MIS  TRESS  DORO  THY  MA  R  VIN. 

on  the  left-hand  side  of  the  landing  had  been  thrust  open,  and 
me  pushed  through  it,  whilst  Betty  had  called  out  laughingly, 
"  An  unwelcome  visitor  for  Mistress  Marvin  !  "  and  had  shut  the 
door  quickly,  leaving  me  alone  to  face  the  invalid.  This  struck 
me  as  being  both  kind  and  considerate  of  my  sister. 

My  love  was  sitting  swathed  in  shawls  in  a  chair  beside  the 
bed,  gazing  out  of  the  window.  Her  face  was  wan,  and  a  coif 
covered  her  head,  and  her  eyes  were  half  closed. 

At  the  beginning  she  did  not  look  at  me,  and  I  may  say  this 
made  me  nervous.  'Twas  so  long  since  I  had  last  seen  her,  and 
now  she  appeared  so  sad  and  grave  and  pensive,  that  though  for 
the  first  moment  I  felt  a  wild  desire  to  rush  forth  and  embrace 
her,  her  serious  demeanor  restrained  me,  and  caused  me  to  stand 
six  yards  away,  timid  and  bashful,  with  all  my  speech  dried  up. 
She  turned  her  matchless  eyes  languidly  towards  me,  and  said 
still  more  languidly,  and  with  all  the  airs  of  an  idle  lady — 

"  Master  Armstrong,  is  it  ?  And  how  is  Master  Armstrong 
this  pleasant  afternoon  ? " 

"  My  darling,"  quoth  I,  and  then  stopped.  There  was  some- 
thing in  her  tone  and  manner  that  chilled  and  frightened  me. 
Certes  !  this  was  not  the  old  Dorothy. 

Again  she  looked  at  me,  this  time  with  mild  surprise,  and 
with  a  bewilderment  pretty  to  see,  only  that  it  hurt  me  so  very 
sorely.  I  quailed  before  her  steady  gaze  and  its  strange  indif- 
ference. Many  thoughts  crowded  into  my  mind  ;  all  of  them 
unpleasant  ones.  What  could  this  mean  ?  Had  she  forgotten 
me  already  ? 

"  My  darling,"  I  said  again,  but  this  time  hardly  above  a 
•whisper.  Something  seemed  to  incommode  my  throat  and  stop 
all  power  of  utterance. 

Thereupon  she  put  her  hand  to  her  forehead  as  though  per- 
plexed, whilst  my  misgivings  changed  to  tangible  certainty,  and 
awful  fears  caused  my  heart  to  sink. 

"  Ah,  Master  Armstrong,"  she  said  measuredly,  and  with  a 
feeble  glimmer  of  a  smile,  but  only  the  spurious  imitation  of 
her  former  one,  "  I  remember  now,  oh  yes,  I  remember  now." 

This  did  but  add  to  my  pain  of  mind,  for  all  the  old  fire,  the 
old  spirit,  the  old  vivacity  had  vanished,  and  in  place  thereof 
there  was  nought  but  cold  lassitude. 

"  So  thou  hast  forgotten — everything,"  I  gasped,  sweat 
springing  to  my  brow. 

She  clasped  her  wasted  hands,  with  the  blue  veins  showing 
through  the  skin,  and  dropped  them  in  her  lap.  She  lowered  her 
eyes  and  turned  her  face  away  from  me,  but  never  answered. 


THE  KING'S  MEN  TAKE  THE  FIELD  AGAIN.        311 

"You  may  have  forgotten  me,  you  may  love  me  no  longer  !  " 
I  broke  out  vehemently,  "  but  ne'er  can  I  forget  you,  or  what 
we  have  gone  through  together.  I  have  heard  before  of  folks 
losing  their  memories  and  their  former  ties  of  life  by  reason  of 
great  maladies.  Yet  I  have  not  been  ill  myself,  therefore  my 
heart  and  recollection  are  quite  unchanged.  I  must " 

"  Hush,  hush,  hush  !  Master  Armstrong,  I  am  far  too  weak 
to  bear  such  loud  talk.  I  must  beg  you  to  withdraw  if  you 
cannot  restrain  your  tone.  My  nerves  will  admit  of  not  the 
slightest  noise." 

"  Dorothy,  thou'rt  surely  not  in  earnest.  This  indifference 
is  cruelty." 

"  Cruelty  it  may  be,  but  oh,  I  must  be  honest !  I  must  not 
deceive  you,  by  allowing  you  to  cherish  false-hopes,  and  false 
expectations.  Master  Armstrong,  I  no  longer  feel  towards  you 
as  I  used  to  do.  I — er,  I — oh,  I,"  she  stopped  and  surveyed 
her  twitching  fingers.  My  heart  was  like  a  lump  of  lead  by 
this.  There  was  no  hope  for  me  in  the  marble  face  and  the  list- 
less eyes.  Little  had  I  guessed  that  any  ill,  no  matter  how  se- 
vere, could  change  a  warm  nature  to  a  cold  one,  could  change 
passion  to  harsh  indifference,  could  change  kindly  recollection 
to  stern  forgetf ulness  ! 

"  So,  Dorothy,  this  is  the  end  of  all  that  hath  passed  between 
us.  Oh,  my  love,  how  can  you "?"  I  cried  wildly,  and  a  sort  of 
madness  came  upon  me. 

Still  her  face  was  cold,  calm,  impassive  ;  whereat  I  swore 
•softly  as  I  thought  unto  myself,  kicked  over  a  chair,  strode  past 
her,  turned  my  back  towards  her,  and  looked  out  of  the  win- 
dow too. 

"  Ned,  thou  energetic  gentleman,  don't  be  so  hard  on  the 
furniture." 

That  was  the  voice  of  the  old  Dorothy.  I  turned  again  and 
confronted  her  in  an  instant,  and  saw  the  face  of  the  old  Doro- 
thy too.  I  saw  the  wonted  fire  in  her  countenance,  the  wonted 
smile  about  her  eyes  and  lips,  and  the  warm  blood  glowing 
'neath  the  soft  skin  of  her  cheeks. 

"  You  once  called  me  a  goose,  Ned,  I  believe." 

"  I  may  have  done,  perchance." 

"  I  now  call  you  a  gander,  sir,  and  with  far  better  reason." 

"  But,  my  love,  thou  hast  been  very  hard  on  me  this  day." 

"  Delighted  to  know  it,  young  man.  I  meant  to  be.  The 
punishment  hath  been  severe  ;  I  hope  'twill  be  remembered." 

"  But  what  have  I  done  to  merit  it  ? " 

"  Just  hark  at  that  now-!     Well,  if  you  do  not  know,  Master 


3  r  2  MIS  TRESS  DO  KG  Til  Y  MA  R  VIN. 

Innocence,  I  will  be  at  the  pains  to  tell  you.  Here  have  I 
been  sound  in  mind,  and  pining  for  a  sight  of  you  for  nine 
whole  days  ;  whilst  you,  you  coward,  have  been  tyrannized  over 
by  a  parcel  of  women,  though  in  perfect  health,  and  quite 
capable  of  resenting  their  behavior.  Not  so  me,  for  I  have 
been  laid  by  the  heels,  my  clothes  taken  away,  the  room  door 
locked,  and  all  manner  of  threats  employed  to  keep  me  snug 
between  the  sheets.  I  have  come  to  loathe  these  four  walls, 
and  to  be  bitterly  angry  for  Ned  Armstrong's  neglect.  But,  I 
say,  dear  lad,  I  played  my  part  very  neatly,  did  I  not  ?  and 
have  paid  you  according  to  your  deserts.  My  word,  sir!  thou 
hast  a  fine  knack  of  swearing  soft  and  powerful,  tho'  'tis  not  a 
gentlemanly  habit.  Very  clever  of  me,  I  think." 

"  You  young  witch  !  " 

"  Now,  lad,"  she  said,  in  her  sauciest  way,  "  you  may  give  me 
one  kiss.  Yes,  methinks  I  have  the  strength  to  bear  just  one, 
providing  it  is  proffered  very  nicely." 

In  the  face  of  this  encouragement,  I  gave  her  not  one,  but 
many  more  than  the  stipulation. 

"  Oh,  Ned,"  she  said,  with  girlish  vanity,  "  is  it  not  a  pity 
that  my  pretty  hair  is  gone  ?  " 

"  Shows  your  snow-white  neck  to  all  the  better  advantage, 
love." 

"  And  what  of  my  thin  cheeks,  sir  ?  " 

"  They  allow  of  three  extra  dimples  when  you  smile,  dear." 

"  Very  adroit,  my  lad  ;  very  adroit." 

And  then  she  fell  to  talking  of  her  near  escape  from  death, 
and  for  at  least  an  hour  filled  mine  ears  with  nought  else  but 
the  praises  of  mother  and  Betty,  who  most  certainly  between 
them  had  saved  her  life.  'Twas  fine  to  hear  the  warm-hearted 
young  creature  pour  forth  her  words  of  gratitude,  her  cheeks 
flushed  by  their  owner's  earnestness.  Yet  the  last  words  my 
loved  one  spoke  to  me  that  day  touched  on  an  entirely  different 
subject. 

"  Ned,  women  are  not  expected  to  fight,  are  they  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not." 

"  I  am  pleased  to  hear  thee  say  so.  May  God  ne'er  let  me 
behold  another  fight.  I  have  seen  but  one,  and  that  I  shall 
remember  till  my  dying  da}'.  I  must  always  shiver  when  I 
think  of  it.  You  and  Sir  Nicholas  were  like  raving  tigers  who 
had  smelt  blood  that  night.  Ne'er  can  I  forget  your  eyes. 
Methinks  they  have  seared  themselves  into  my  brain ;  and 
henceforth  there  is  at  least  one  woman  who  will  be  quite  con- 
tent to  leave  all  fighting  to  mankind." 


THE  KING'S  MEN  TAKE  THE  FIELD  AGAIN.        313 

My  mistress  mended  very  rapidly  now.  Day  by  day  her 
strength  came  back,  and  with  it  all  her  former  gayety,  playful- 
ness and  quick  impetuosity.  Albeit,  there  was  one  alteration 
in  her  sentiments.  Her  dead  sire  to  her  was  glorified  ;  she  did 
not  once  mention  the  circumstances  of  his  murder;  and  on  one 
occasion  when  I  chanced  to  embark  upon  the  story  for  the 
enlightenment  of  the  family,  she  rose  hastily  from  her  seat  and 
left  the  room.  And  the  next  time  she  found  me  alone  she 
besought  me  never  again  to  allude  to  it  in  her  presence  ;  add- 
ing, and  her  eyes  were  cruel — 

"  Ned,  whene'er  I  think  of  the  murder  of  that  noble  man,  it 
seems  a  reproach  to  me,  his  child,  that  the  wretch  Avho  wrought 
the  deed  still  lives.  Sometimes  when  I  am  alone  it  almost 
maddens  me  to  think  Pringle  goes  unpunished.  Mayhap  one 
day  he  will  be  in  my  power ;  and  then — 

Her  face  caught  something  of  her  dead  sire's  murderous 
look,  and  her  mouth  went  hard  and  merciless.  She  looked 
noble,  nay,  magnificent,  in  her  fierceness,  and  her  untamed  pas- 
sion. Once  before  had  I  seen  her  thus  ;  then  she  had  been 
my  enemy,  but  was  now  my  friend  and  darling.  This  bare 
thought  sufficed  to  keep  me  happy  for  hours  afterwards.  . 

Steadily  the  days  slipped  by,  and  each  one  seemed  to  give 
my  love  a  greater  glow  of  health,  and  a  riper,  fuller  beauty. 
Never  before  had  she  known  the  meaning  of  feminine  love,  in- 
tercourse, and  sympathy.  Now  all  these  good  things  were  hers, 
and  they  gave  her  heart  a  warmer  zest  of  life,  and  a  larger 
share  of  joyfulness.  But,  strange  to  say;  her  nature  was  not 
softened  in  the  least.  That  word  "  softened  "  must  not  be  as- 
cribed to  me,  kinsmen.  Should  I  live  to  be  as  old  as  Methu- 
selah, I  will  ne'er  admit  that  it  needed  any  softening,  as  me- 
thought  it  quite  soft  enough  already.  Still,  mother  would 
maintain,  in  face  of  me  and  even  my  wilful  mistress,  that  her 
spirit  was  far  too  high  for  a  maid,  and  that  (to  use  no  stronger 
word)  it  needed  softening  or  mellowing.  She  declared  it  did 
not  become  a  girl  to  fence  and  play  singlestick  or  quarterstaff 
with  the  male  sex,  to  ride  barebacked  horses  over  five-barred 
gates,  to  beat  the  dogs  into  submission  and  go  badger-hunting 
with  them  afterwards,  or  to  talk  so  much  of  war.  However, 
despite  these  defects,  mother  was  obliged  to  admit  many  times 
over  that  she  loved  Dorothy  as  a  daughter  of  her  own.  And 
every  time  she  said  as  much  in  my  hearing,  my  cup  of  happi- 
ness seemed  filled  up  to  the  brim. 

I  was  truly  happy  throughout  those  sweet  days.  I  was  now 
waiting  for  Prince  William's  coming,  and  every  morning  I 


3U  Af /STRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

jumped  out  of  bed  it  gave  me  joy  to  know  that  I  had  twenty- 
four  hours  the  less  to  wait  for  his  arrival.  But  one  night,  in 
the  midst  of  all  this  happiness,  John  came  home  with  heavy 
news  hot  on  his  tongue.  'Twas  to  the  effect  that  Captain 
Pringle  had  received  reinforcements  from  London,  and  that 
once  more  they  were  keenly  questing  me.  Also  a  rumor  had 
gone  abroad  that  Black  Ned  was  still  in  the  county ;  and  that 
a  Nether  Stowey  yeoman  had  actually  set  eyes  on  him,  scarce 
a  week  back,  one  morning  among  the  Quantocks.  It  was  evi- 
dent from  this  that  I  must  leave  my  present  life  of  peace  and 
comfort  without  delay ;  and  that  night  when  I  retired  to  rest 
my  slumbers  were  nothing  near  so  pleasant  as  of  late  they  had 
been. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

THE   SUPERIORITY   OF    KING'S    MEN. 

'TWAS  no  longer  safe  to  bide  under  the  sheltering  roof-tree  of 
home.  I  must  be  away  if  I  sought  to  save  my  neck.  Hiding- 
places  were  scarce,  and  the  best  of  all  methought  was  the  one 
I  had  so  lately  occupied.  There  was  but  one  drawback  to  it, 
and  that  was  lack  of  food.  Wherefore  the  three  women,  all 
eagerness  for  my  preservation,  undertook  between  them  to 
keep  me  well  supplied,  promising  to  convey  it  secretly  into  the 
copse. 

Two  days  they  acted  thus  ;  yet  ere  the  third  had  passed  I 
had  no  further  need  of  their  bounty.  In  the  early  morning  of 
that  day,  thinking  that  I  might  with  safety  venture  forth  into 
the  open  for  a  little  while  to  ease  my  legs,  as  they  were  weary 
of  being  cooped  up  in  so  narrow  a  space,  I  was  walking  leis- 
urely near  the  manor  gates,  when  the  hoofs  of  a  horse  sounded 
close  by  ;  and  before  I  could  spring  into  hiding,  a  voice  cried, 
"  Good  morrow,  my  friend." 

'Twas  my  vanquished  rival  the  Frenchman.  I  tarried  and 
held  speech  with  him.  Though  neither  of  us  bore  any  enmity 
towards  the  other,  M.  de  Crois  was  not  satisfied. 

"  Monsieur,"  he  said,  "  you  beat  me.  Being  a  stranger  to 
defeat  'tis  a  thing  to  chafe  my  blood.  Pray  let  me  see  your 
steel  again — one  more  passado  is  the  vanquished's  privilege  in 
France,  and  I  think  the  same  holds  with  gentlemen  all  Europe 
through." 

I  could  not  refuse  him  without  greatly  lowering  myself  in 


THE  SUPERIORITY  OF  KING'S  MEN. 


3*5 


his  estimation,  and  it  would  have  put  me  sorely  about  to  be 
thus  belittled.  Accordingly,  I  acceded  to  his  request,  yet 
strictly  premised  that,  should  I  fall  before  him,  he  was  to  place 
me  under  the  care  of  Master  Whipple,  even  as  I  had  conveyed 
him  to  the  Green  Man  at  Taunton.  My  hope  of  success  was 
of  the  scantiest,  and,  to  add  to  my  predicament,  love  did  not 
urge  me  on  this  time  ;  'twas  simply  a  duty  I  owed  to  the  van- 
quished. Granted  that  my  claims  to  honor  were  peculiar,  'twas 
honor  alone  which  prompted  me  now  to  engage. 

We  crossed  swords  within  twenty  yards  of  our  former  meeting- 
place,  tho'  now  the  sun  had  not  reached  any  power,  the  dew  lay 
on  the  grass,  and  the  air  was  chilly  and  refreshing  to  the 
temples.  The  count  made  no  vain  display  on  this  occasion, 
but  went  grimly  to  work,  and  ere  I  could  retaliate  he  had  set 
three  sharp  thrusts  at  my  chest  which  needed  great  alertness 
and  agility  to  escape.  This  man  was  a  master  of  the  art,  as  I 
have  said.  He  fought  me  brilliantly,  and  there  was  no  with- 
standing his  skill  and  impetuosity.  He  drove  me  back  from  his 
restless  blade,  and  do  as  I  might,  I  could  find  no  chance 
of  averting  the  threatened  catastrophe.  My  breath  quickened, 
and  the  sweat  crept  on  my  forehead,  still  that  merciless  steel  was 
quivering  before  my  eyes,  and  seeking  for  its  chance.  And  it 
duly  came.  I  repulsed  the  vigorous  onset  more  feebly  every 
time,  till  at  last  the  sword-point  slipped  my  guard.  I  felt  as 
though  red-hot  skewers  were  searing  my  flesh,  my  eyes  swam, 
my  head  grew  dizzy,  and  everything — the  twittering  birds,  the 
lowing  cattle,  the  dewy  fields,  and  that  maleficent  rapier — 
settled  into  one  universal  blank. 


When  I  opened  my  eyes,  and  could  see  and  think  and  feel,  I 
was  not  exactly  sure  whether  I  was  wideawake,  or  had  passed 
to  the  land  of  visions.  I  lay  on  a  bed  in  a  strange  room,  and  it 
was  filled  with  loud-voiced  fellows,  and  close  by  my  elbow  knelt 
a  chirurgeon  looking  me  over  keenly. 

"  He  hath  regained  his  senses,  friends,"  he  said,  as  he  per- 
ceived my  open  eyes. 

"  Well  said,  sir  !  Let's  have  a  look  at  my  admirable  gentle- 
man." 

This  was  spoken  by  a  voice  which  made  me  wish  I  was  still 
unconscious.  The  little  Pringle  shoved  his  face  between  me 
and  the  red  bed-curtains.  He  shook  his  fist  in  my  face,  and 
then,  in  excess  of  devilry,  tweaked  my  nose  viciously  with  his 
other  paw. 


3  16  MJSTA'ESS  DORO THY  MARTIN. 

"Oho,  Master  Thief !  "  he  cried,  showing  two  rows  of  teeth  in 
an  ungentlemanly  grin.  "  Y'are  mine  at  last.  I  ne'er  forget 
my  debts.  You've  escaped  me  once ;  yet  'tis  the  final  time. 
A  sweet  length  of  hemp  and  a  handsome  gibbet-tree  await  you." 

The  others  crowded  round  and  looked  at  me  in  unmistak- 
able delight.  The  generous  captain  called  for  wine  and 
treated  his  men  round.  They  danced  and  sung,  such  was  their 
pleasure ;  and  all  the  time  I  lay  with  a  fearful  pain  in  my  right 
side,  which  forced  a  groan  at  intervals.  'Twas  a  refined  torture 
to  be  lying  helpless  there,  watching  their  joyfulness. 

Having  drunk  plentifully,  the  little  captain  commenced  strut- 
ting up  and  down  the  room,  and  declaiming  very  powerfully 
anent  the  immense,  nay  boundless,  superiority  of  King's  men 
over  all  other  species  of  mankind. 

"  He,  he  !  "  sniggered  the  captain.  "  Trust  King's  men  to 
carry  a  matter  through  when  their  minds  are  set  upon  it.  We 
are  not  sheriff's  officers  and  country  dolts.  We  are  differently 
fashioned;  we  say  a  thing  and  we  do  it,  or  else  do  know  the 
reason." 

To  this  day  it  hath  ne'er  struck  me  that  'twas  any  special 
display  of  ability  on  their  part  which  brought  about  my  arrest. 

It  appeared  that  when  the  count,  according  to  the  compact, 
was  bearing  me  to  Bridgwater  on  his  horse,  by  a  strange  mis- 
adventure my  enemies  happened  to  accost  him  on  the  way. 
They  beheld  me  insensible,  and  forthwith  took  custody  of  my 
body  and  bore  it  to  the  Green  Man,  Taunton,  where  they 
halted  to  partake  of  wine  on  the  strength  of  their  good  fortune, 
and  also,  as  I  shrewdly  suspected,  to  wait  awhile  to  let  the  news 
of  my  capture  get  noised  abroad,  so  that  the  townsfolk  might 
assemble  in  force  to  see  me  borne  with  triumph  to  prison. 

Having  bibbed  enough  for  the  time  being,  my  captors  pro- 
cured a  shutter  to  bear  me  further  on  my  way  to  jail,  which,  in- 
deed, was  not  far  distant.  'Twas  an  irksome  passage  down  the 
stairs  on  the  comfortless  wood,  carried  on  the  shoulders  of  my 
captors,  whilst  their  leader  strode  on  jauntily  in  front,  bidding 
the  crowd,  in  his  most  aggressive  and  authoritative  manner, 
make  way  for  the  upholders  of  justice  and  the  public  peace. 

All  the  town  seemed  to  have  gathered  and  were  surging  in 
the  path  ;  but  I  was  quite  able  to  meet  the  eyes  of  the  grinning, 
staring  multitude.  Mayhap  'tis  one  of  the  misfortunes  of  a 
great  man  to  be  trampled  on  when  he  doth  chance  to  fall. 
Nought  is  too  good  or  gracious  for  this  same  person  when  at 
the  zenith  of  his  glory;  yet,  when  the  downfall  comes,  the  mob 
spits  upon  him  with  no  better  reason  than  they  cheered  him  i:i 


TA  UN  TON  CO  UR  THO  USE :     TA  UN  TON  JAfL.          317 

prosperity.  So  'twas  now  with  me.  Hundreds  whom  I  had 
not  harmed,  and  who  had  previously  shown  me  favor,  now 
howled  and  cursed  with  the  loudest.  'Twas  a  mighty  mob,  a 
restless,  glaring,  threatening  mob,  and,  moblike,  seeing  me  quite 
incapable  of  resistance,  threatened  me  repeatedly  with  divers 
kinds  of  violence.  Natheless  I  laughed  and  scoffed  at  it,  for  I 
was  always  gifted  with  the  rude  surface  courage  that  flourishes 
in  wild  animals  and  the  lower  types  of  man.  This  proceeding 
further  incited  them,  and  they  became  more  aggressive  in  their 
abuse.  One  coward  came  forth  and  slapped  my  cheek  to  ex- 
press contempt  the  better;  but  this  laudable  desire  was  fraught 
with  infinite  disaster,  for  a  splendid  fist  shot  out  from  the  arm 
of  a  still  more  splendid  fellow,  and  the  coward  dropped  like  a 
log  'midst  the  roar  of  the  multitude.  The  smiter  was  my  brother 
John. 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

TAUNTON  COURTHOUSE  :    TAUNTON  JAIL. 

MY  heart  sank  as  the  jail  gates  closed  and  thereby  cut  me 
off  from  the  living  world.  The  governor,  a  fat,  heavy-witted 
fellow,  came  forward  to  meet  us  as  we  reached  the  prison  yard, 
and,  after  expressing  his  great  pleasure  at  the  morning's  work, 
led  my  five  bearers  and  me  along  a  dark  corridor  in  the  for- 
bidding building  itself,  and  from  thence  to  a  small,  dark,  bare 
room,  with  a  stoutly  barred  window  set  up  high  in  the  wall,  and 
a  thick  door  of  solid  oak,  grated  at  the  top,  to  confine  me 
securely.  Seeing  my  condition  so  weak  and  unhappy,  a  mat- 
tress, a  rug,  and  a  blanket  were  allowed  me  in  lieu  of  the 
wooden  pallet  usually  allotted  to  prisoners. 

When  the  door  clanged  to,  and  the  jailer's  key  turned  squeak- 
ing in  the  lock,  I  threw  myself  on  my  meagre  couch  and  felt 
that  my  end  was  near.  My  wound  gave  me  much  agony, 
though  the  bleeding  had  been  stanched.  Every  hour  was 
fraught  for  me  with  grievous  pain  of  mind  and  body,  whilst 
my  hurt  ne'er  seemed  to  mend  a  whit.  The  chirurgeon  came 
to  my  cell  once  a  day  to  tend  it :  and  very  zealous  indeed  was 
he  for  my  well-being,  that  I  might  come  to  be  decently  hanged. 
'Twas  a  wretched,  fretful,  exasperating  time  ;  and  to  lie  prone 
and  helpless  awaking  the  gibbet  was  not  the  slightest  consola- 
tion. The  assizes  were  close  at  hand ;  hence  I  had  not  long 
21 


318  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

to  linger.  As  the  days  passed  my  weakness  of  body  increased, 
and  my  state  of  mind  further  aggravated  it. 

One  morning,  maybe  a  week  after  my  arrest,  the  governor  of 
the  jail  came  to  me  and  bade  me  rise  and  follow  him  ;  for  the 
justices  were  down  from  London  on  their  Western  circuit,  and 
they  were  now  awaiting  my  appearance  at  the  courthouse. 
Soap  and  water  did  their  best  to  redeem  my  countenance  some- 
what ;  tho'  even  then  I  was  but  a  woe-begone  apology  for  a  man. 

'Twas  a  short  journey  to  the  courthouse,  and  it  was  made  in  a 
guarded  vehicle.  The  place  of  horror  was  packed  as  tight  as 
it  could  be  by  a  throng  of  pitiless  spectators,  who,  with  unan- 
imity, bent  their  eyes  on  me  as  I  was  ushered  into  the  dock. 
I  failed  to  mark  them  then,  as  I  almost  thought  I  beheld  the 
Lord  Chief  Justice  in  his  scarlet  robes,  such  was  the  power  of 
imagination  ;  yet  'twas  not  so,  for  three  judges  were  installed  on 
the  dais  who  had  less  devilry  than  he.  And  as  I  looked  about, 
I  thought  to  see  my  father  at  my  side,  and  the  other  eight 
prisoners  near  him.  I  thought  to  see  the  crowd  of  grinning 
soldiery,  and  to  hear  the  japes  and  bellowings  of  Jeffreys. 
Then  I  suddenly  recollected  my  present  predicament,  and  I 
e'en  wished  that  times  had  not  changed  since  then.  Three 
years  agone  I  could  have  faced  God  with  name  unsullied  ;  but 
now  I  was  sold  to  the  devil,  and  was  dishonored  in  His  sight. 

The  multitude  craned  their  necks  and  obtained  a  view  of  me, 
whereupon  each  wallower  in  curiosity  looked  questions  at  his 
neighbor.  Could  this  miserable,  wan-faced  creature  be  the 
man  who  had  set  three  counties  agog  with  amazement  ?  who 
had  tricked  and  flouted  justice,  and  had  made  the  sheriff  and 
his  men  a  laughing-stock  ?  A  buzz  of  wonderment  arose, 
whereat  their  lordships  cleared  their  throats  and  reminded 
Master  Usher  of  his  duty.  Directly  that  same  buzz  was 
hushed,  and  the  sombre-garbed  lawyers  fidgeted  in  their  seats. 

The  men  of  law  had  come  from  London  in  considerable  force 
to  represent  the  King,  and  'twas  quite  educational  to  see  their 
mass  of  papers,  and  to  mark  the  restlessness  of  their  pens. 
Very  generously  His  Majesty  had  allowed  me  a  small  gentle- 
man (who  was  forever  bobbing  up  and  objecting)  to  plead  for 
me.  And  a  monstrous  fine  pleader  he  was  too.  He  might 
have  drawn  tears  out  of  a  stone,  yet  never  once  out  of  the  grand 
jury.  They  were  all  blue-blooded  Tory  squires,  from  whom  I 
had  extorted  the  richest  part  of  my  booty,  and  when  an  un- 
usually brilliant  burst  of  eloquence  arose  from  my  small  lawyer, 
somehow  they  always  happened  to  be  occupied  in  blowing 
their  noses,  or  in  helping  themselves  to  Black  Rappee. 


TAUNTON  COURTHOUSE:     TAUNTON JAIL.          319 

The  trial,  like  most  of  its  species,  was  a  mockery.  I  had  to 
be  hanged,  and  every  one  in  the  place  was  aware  of  the  fact ; 
and  none  better  than  myself.  Perhaps  'twould  not  have  been 
respectable  for  me  to  have  been  hanged  without  a  lot  of  word 
bandying  :  'twould  mean  taking  bread  out  of  the  mouths  of  the 
attorneys.  Their  lordships  were  quite  grief-stricken  over  my 
iniquities ;  the  crown  lawyers  descanted  at  length  upon  the 
number  and  extreme  wickedness  of  my  crimes ;  whilst  the  wit- 
nesses came  one  after  another  to  contemn  and  damn  my  frail 
character. 

Captain  Joshua  Pringle  stood  forth  in  the  witness-box,  amidst 
a  hum  of  admiration  from  those  assembled.  He  spoke  at 
length,  and  detailed  with  surprising  imagination  my  hunting 
down  and  capture,  and  the  desperation  of  my  resistance.  His 
veracity  was  properly  rewarded,  as  he  was  publicly  compli- 
mented by  their  lordships.  The  candles  were  lighted  ere  the  end 
of  the  farce  was  played.  At  last  the  men  of  law  ceased  their 
babbling;  whereat  I  waited  dull  and  desperate  for  the  end. 
The  sentence  was  proclaimed  aloud  with  its  luxurious  wealth  of 
detail  (even  to  the  disembowelling),  as  so  parlous  a  rogue  en- 
tirely merited.  I  had  ten  days  left  to  live — in  which  to  make 
my  peace  with  God.  At  daybreak,  on  the  eleventh  morning, 
the  sentence  was  to  be  carried  out.  The  judges  were  solemn 
as  death  itself ;  the  lawyers,  after  their  immense  exertions,  took 
advantage  of  the  moment  to  snatch  gulps  at  the  liquor,  which 
reposed  in  small  bottles  in  their  several  pockets;  the  jury  were 
gleeful;  and  the  spectators  clapped  their  hands  in  approbation. 
There  was  not  a  wet  eye  amongst  them,  which  made  me  thank- 
ful, as  it  proved  that  none  of  the  home  folk  were  present.  I 
preserved  a  reckless,  defiant  demeanor  in  face  of  them,  and 
was  grateful  that  I  had  still  the  strength  to  show  so  bold  a 
front. 

I  was  taken  back  to  my  dismal  cell,  with  ten  days  to  live. 
At  first  all  emotion  was  frozen  up.  I  lay  stunned  and  devoid 
of  care,  yet  'twas  but  the  calm  before  the  storm.  Neglected 
precepts  will  oft  be  rekindled,  even  though  they  have  lain  dead 
for  many  days.  'Tis  not  in  our  power  to  thrust  aside  early 
teaching  arid  exhortation  altogether.  Kinsmen,  we  may  tram- 
ple upon  it  if  we  will,  but  its  embers  will  indubitably  smoulder, 
choosing  a  seasonable  time  to  blaze  again  into  a  living  fire. 
This  resuscitation  is  greatly  to  be  dreaded  by  strong  men,  tho' 
more  especially  by  weak.  And  I  was  a  weak  man.  I  had 
turned  my  head  away  from  God,  and  had  served  the  devil 
faithfully ;  and  had  now  ten  days  to  live.  Ten  days  to  undo 


320  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

all  that  had  been  done.  As  I  have  before  averred,  conscience 
is  a  coward.  It  invariably  waits  till  its  victim  is  crushed  by 
adversity  ere  it  makes  the  grand  assault.  When  the  mind  and 
body  are  alike  attacked  by  some  eating  malady,  and  the  gates 
of  hell  are  looming  large  within  the  brain,  then  down  comes 
conscience,  grim  and  merciless.  I  had  tried  to  cajole  my  mind 
into  believing  that  after  all  I  had  been  too  harsh  in  the  judg- 
ment of  myself.  However,  ere  morning  came,  I  had  swept  this 
notion  away  forever.  Ten  days  is  a  little  time,  and  how  to 
employ  it  to  the  best  advantage,  I  did  not  know.  I  sought  to 
make  my  peace  with  God,  and  once  I  tried  to  pray,  but  could 
not  do  so  with  any  inward  sense  of  propriety.  No,  I  could  not 
pray.  I  might  frame  the  words,  yet  they  did  nought  to  miti- 
gate my  sins ;  there  was  no  inspiration  in  them.  In  the  morn- 
ing I  claimed  a  condemned  man's  privilege,  and  asked  for  a 
clergyman.  A  Catholic  priest  was  sent  me,  and  he  talked 
about  Confession,  et  cetera,  and  was  particularly  pat  with  the 
Scriptures.  He  stayed  two  hours,  and  was  doubtless  a  well- 
meaning  and  holy  man  ;  but  methinks  he  was  a  source  of  det- 
riment to  my  temper,  and  no  benefit  to  my  soul.  As  I  was 
lying  under  sentence,  my  friends  were  allowed  to  see  me,  there- 
fore that  same  afternoon  my  mother  visited  the  jail  to  say  fare- 
well. She  came  paler  than  a  ghost,  and  her  white  face  hurt  me 
cruelly.  She  stood  by  my  mattress  and  looked  clown  at  her 
wasted  son.  I  had  nought  to  say  to  her  at  first,  and  she  had 
nought  to  say  to  me.  She  drooped  her  head,  knelt  down  and 
took  my  hot  hand  in  her  own. 

"  My  poor  boy  ! "  she  said  at  length. 

I  did  not  answer,  and  she  stroked  my  head  and  wept  bitterly. 
By  and  by  words  came  to  my  tongue,  and  I  mumbled  them  with 
rapidity  ;  fearful  of  a  failing  voice. 

"  Mother,"  I  said,  "  I  have  not  much  longer  to  live.  Wilt 
send  Tobe  Hancock  to  me  ?  I  must  have  speech  with  him, 
'tis  for  my  soul's  well-being.  I  have  been  base  and  weak,  but 
have  not  dragged  our  name  through  the  mire.  None  know  that 
I  am  your  son  ;  and  I  beseech  you  preserve  the  secrecy.  Give 
me  your  forgiveness  and  your  blessing,  and  when  Prince  Wil- 
liam comes,  bid  John  go  leave  the  plough  and  fight,  remember- 
ing father,  and  tell  Dorothy " 

I  broke  off  short  at  my  darling's  name  ;  my  utterance  was 
choked.  'Twill  be  seen  my  last  words  were  those  of  vengeance. 
Even  as  I  faced  the  grave  'twas  rampant  in  my  mind  ;  a  bitter 
thing  to  harbor  then,  but  one  far  bitterer  to  acknowledge  after- 
wards. And  then  to  leave  my  mistress,  the  one  who  had  braved 


TAUNTON  COURTHOUSE:     TAUNTON  JAIL.          321 

so  much  for  me,  and  whom  I  knew  full  well  was  longing  for  the 
Dutchman's  coming,  not  for  her  own  sake,  but  for  mine — lo 
leave  her,  added  bitterness  to  a  cup  already  overcharged  with 
gall.  'Twas  unseemly,  I  am  aware,  to  countenance  such 
thoughts  as  these  at  this  awful  season,  yet  I  cannot  alter  truth. 

Mother  kissed  me,  and  said  good-bye ;  and  when  she  walked 
away  and  left  me,  her  steps  they  were  unsteady.  I,  who  guessed 
the  tortures  in  her  breast,  stared  at  the  chinks  of  the  grating 
up  in  the  wall,  and  watched  the  streaks  of  daylight  glimmer 
through  it.  I  watched  them  till  there  were  none  to  see ;  till  the 
darkness  gathered,  and  there  was  no  longer  any  light.  I  had 
asked  mother  to  send  Tobe  Hancock  to  me,  as  methought  he 
was  a  man  who  might  prepare  me  better  than  any  one  else  for 
what  was  about  to  follow.  That  night  passed  with  more  horror 
than  the  previous  one.  My  wound  pained  me  grievously  ;  the 
hurt  ne'er  seemed  to  mend,  and  as  the  hours  went,  I  felt  the 
fever  rising  in  my  frame,  whilst  the  tojture  of  my  brain  con- 
tinued. Nine  days  to  make  my  peace  with  God. 

Towards  noon,  next  day,  Tobias  arrived.  He  came  to  me 
very  grave,  and  with  a  dignified  sorrow.  He  took  my  hand  in 
his  great  brown  one,  and  looked  at  me  straight  and  simply,  and 
somehow  hope  came  into  my  mind  at  mere  sight  of  him.  I  had 
half  feared  he  would  spurn  and  revile  me,  in  fact,  that  he  might 
e'en  refuse  to  come  and  see  me.  However,  I  had  misjudged 
him.  In  days  gone  by,  I  had  flattered  myself  that  I  knew  him 
and  his  character  better  than  other  people,  yet  'twas  plain  even 
I  did  not  realize  his  virtues  in  their  full  capacity.  He  gave  me 
a  look  with  his  deep  brooding  eyes,  and  by  some  means  I  man- 
aged to  tell  him  where  my  trouble  lay.  He  said  nothing  for  a 
while,  but  ultimately  told  me  I  was  not  so  bad  as  he  had  at  first 
supposed.  Hereafter  he  talked  to  me  earnestly,  yet  soothingly 
and  gently;  then  read  the  Bible  in  his  homely  tongue,  and  ex- 
plained the  import  of  his  reading  with  simplicity,  but  with  acute 
knowledge  of  his  subject.  He  ne'er  grew  tired  ;  but  meant  to 
save  me,  if  flesh  and  blood  could  do  so  in  the  time.  He  ex- 
pounded and  revealed  to  me  many  things  connected  with  Holy 
Writ,  of  which  I  had  hitherto  been  ignorant.  He  visited  me 
morning,  noon,  and  night,  was  ever  the  same;  he  had  no  fire 
of  the  zealot  now  ;  and  was  always  calm,  soothing,  patient, 
unwearying.  He  avoided  the  past,  but  threw  his  whole  soul 
into  the  work  that  lay  before  him.  Albeit,  the  ten  days  that 
were  left  slipped  by,  one  by  one,  and  as  each  one  fled  my  fever 
of  mind  and  body  grew. 

In  the  day-time  I  could  rest  with  tolerable  ease  of  brain,  yet 


322  AffSTKESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

when  the  stealthy  horrible  darkness  came,  the  tortures  of  fear 
and  remembrance  seized  me  in  a  grip  of  iron  and  held  me  fast. 
The  piety,  the  zeal,  and  the  real  friendship  of  Tobias  lightened 
the  misery  of  the  day,  but  the  black,  haunted  night,  ah  me  !  I 
cannot  tell  the  horrors  of  it.  The  inflammation  of  the  wound 
wrought  horrid  pain,  and  kept  sleep  from  my  eyes ;  therefore  I 
did  nought  but  groan  and  toss  about  and  heap  maledictions  on 
my  pitiable  state.  Despite  the  efforts  of  the  blacksmith,  I  could 
not  resign  myself  to  death.  I. dared  not  think  of  the  hereafter, 
though  'twas  so  fast  approaching.  And  being  so  weak  I  sur- 
rendered to  pitiful  revilings.  I  cursed  my  friends,  I  cursed  the 
King,  I  cursed  myself;  and  directly  I  had  thus  delivered  my 
puny  soul,  I  grew  terrified  at  my  position.  To  die  so  infamous 
and  unrepentant  appalled  me,  yet  what  could  avail  ?  I  might 
curse  or  I  might  pray.  'Twas  all  to  no  purpose  ;  wherefore  I 
became  a  victim  to  despair.  If  I  could  live  a  few  weeks  more 
I  might  make  my  peace.  But  no,  'twas  not  to  be.  I  must  die 
a  thief  and  unforgiven.  Was  there  no  way  out  of  that  dread 
cell  ?  Mine  own  understanding  could  think  of  none.  What 
chance  had  a  man  so  grievously  stricken  of  escaping  ?  Here 
another  bitter  thought  came  to  me.  The  man  who  might  be  of 
the  greatest  service  had  made  no  sign.  Peter  Whipple  had 
ne'er  once  appeared.  If  any  mortal  could  assist  me  in  my 
present  pass,  assuredly  'twas  he.  'Twas  a  cruel  reflection  to 
think  he  had  deserted  the  sinking  ship.  Why  did  not  Peter 
Whipple,  my  friend  and  hero,  come  ?  He  of  all  men  might 
assist  me,  yet  held  aloof.  He  had  renounced  my  cause,  despite 
his  many  fair  professions.  Death  had  already  a  hand  on  my 
shoulder,  but  that  did  not  prevent  me  giving  mine  host  of  the 
King's  Head  a  malediction  in  the  middle  of  the  night.  And 
having  done  that,  I  remembered  the  next  night  would  be  my 
last  on  earth. 

Towards  noon  on  the  following  day,  another  visitor  was 
ushered  into  the  condemned  man's  cell.  One  glance  told  me 
'twas  my  darling.  At  that  sight  misery  overpowered  me  for  the 
moment.  I  had  wished  ne'er  to  set  eyes  on  her  again  this  side 
the  grave,  since  all  thoughts  of  her  added  one  hundredfold  to 
my  tortures.  What  man  could  bear  to  be  so  vividly  reminded 
of  his  loss  ? 

I  was  alone,  for  Tobe  Hancock  was  not  yet  come.  Dorothy 
came  towards  me  in  her  usual  bold  resolute  fashion,  yet  no  smile 
enhanced  her  lips,  no  joy  shone  in  her  eyes,  for  her  face  had  a 
distracted  look,  and  she  shuddered  when  she  saw  me  so  hag- 
gard and  strangely  altered.  She  took  both  my  \vasted  hands 


TA  UN  TON  CO  UR  THO  USE  :     TA  UN  TON  JAIL.          323 

in  hers,  and  pressed  them  so  hard  that  in  my  feeble  state  I 
winced. 

"  Dear  lad  !  "  she  said  softly,  and  gazed  at  me  with  a  power 
of  wistful  sympathy.  Her  face  told  me  many  things,  yet  not 
one  was  so  plainly  noticeable  as  the  look  of  dull  despair  that  had 
settled  on  it. 

"  Perhaps  I  ought  not  to  have  come,"  she  said,  still  holding 
my  hands ;  "  but,  oh,  my  lad,  I  could  not  keep  away  !  I  know 
it  hurts  thee  to  see  me,  and  were  I  in  thy  place  'twould  be  the 
same  with  me."  Again  she  looked  at  me,  and  I  saw  her  eyes 
were  heavy,  and  that  her  nether  lip  was  quivering.  "  Methinks 
circumstances  are  too  strong  for  us  this  time,  Ned,"  she  said, 
and  her  sad  tone  conveyed  an  after-taste  of  bitterness.  "  I 
have  done  all  I  can,  but  have  failed  in  everthing.  Yet  I  would 
not  like  you  to  leave  me,  thinking  I  had  not  struck  and  fought 
for  your  cause,  and  mine  own." 

I  could  not  fathom  her  meaning,  but  she  divined  my  per- 
plexity. 

"  I  have  been  to  London."  she  continued.  "  I  saw  my  lord 
Danby  on  your  behalf,  but  he  declared  he  could  not  help  me, 
as  he  was  in  disfavor  with  His  Majesty.  Then  I  saw  my  lady 
Churchill,  who  hath  much  interest  at  Court.  She  declined  to 
assist  me,  and  as  a  last  resource  I  pleaded  for  you  before  the 
King  himself.  Nay,  I  begged  on  my  knees  for  your  life.  He 
was  harder  than  the  steps  at  Whitehall,  for  he  laughed  and 

said But  I  will  not  pain  you  causelessly  by  repeating  his 

cruel  answer." 

No  words  can  show  how  that  simple  story  appealed  to  me. 
It  told  me  that  the  world  was  not  wholly  bad,  that  men  and 
women  were  not  wholly  pitiless.  The  staunch,  indomitable 
spirit  of  the  dead  knight  lived  again  in  her  who  stood  before 
me.  She  had  done  a  thing  that  few  would  have  dared  to  do. 
Her  promptitude,  her  daring,  her  courage,  and  her  steadfast- 
ness all  touched  my  heart  together.  Yet  now  she  had  to  ac- 
knowledge defeat,  and  she  did  so,  brave  as  ever,  though  it  called 
for  noble  fortitude  to  keep  her  eyes  dry,  and  her  sobs  from 
breaking  forth. 

"  Ned,"  she  said  simply,  "  we  have  fought  much  together  ;  we 
have  endured  much  for  and  from  each  other — this  is  our  hardest 
fight.  But  we  have  had  some  happiness — my  sweet  love,  I  will 
remember  always  that  rainy  morning  in  the  spring." 

She  fell  upon  her  knees  beside  my  mattress,  threw  her  arms 
around  my  neck,  and  drew  me  like  a  mother  to  her  breast. 
She  kissed  my  hot  lips,  and  I  think  did  inhale  the  fever  of  my 


3  »4  MfSTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

soul,  since  she  rose  with  a  wailing  sob,  and  in  the  wildness  of 
passionate  despair  cried  out — 

"  O  God,  thou  art  unmerciful !  Thou  hast  dealt  cruelly  with 
me!" 

I  saw  the  young  head  droop ;  the  noble  lift  of  the  neck  was 
no  longer  there,  and  I  knew  the  proud  spirit  was  at  last  subdued 
and  crushed.  We  parted  here,  and  our  farewell  had  such  in- 
effability  that  at  first  I  felt  a  sweetness  in  it :  love  had  brought 
us  very  near  to  Heaven. 

But  as  the  cell  door  clanged  to,  and  my  love  was  lost  to  me 
forever,  the  twilight  seemed  to  gather  round  my  heart,  and  I 
began  to  long  for  death,  as  an  antidote  for  present  pain  and 
torment. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

THE     SIGNAL     OF      DEATH. 

No  sooner  had  the  maid  left  me,  than  Tobe  Hancock  came 
to  pay  his  final  visit.  He  said  farewell  an  hour  before  sunset, 
having  done  all  that  mortal  man  was  able  for  the  saving  of  my  soul. 
My  kind  friend  had  exhorted  me  to  be  of  good  courage,  and 
held  out  great  hopes  for  the  hereafter.  As  long  as  he  remained 
by  my  side  I  felt  calm  and  hopeful ;  but  as  the  sun  waned  and 
the  gray  light  dwindled  into  murky  darkness,  the  fever  rose 
within  me,  and  by  the  time  the  night  had  completely  gathered  I 
lay  moaning  and  tossing  and  thinking  of  the  dawn.  The  dawn 
was  to  mark  my  last  hour  of  earth.  To  lie  there  wounded  and 
helpless,  awaiting  something  keener  than  the  sharpest  pangs  of 
death  ;  bereft  of  hope  and  reason  ;  contemplating  futurity  as  a 
black  ungodly  horror,  was  in  itself  an  appalling  nightmare. 

However,  'twas  not  the  time  for  regrets  ;  all  such  were  useless. 
But  I  felt  I  could  not  die  with  ease  of  mind.  An  hour  agone  I 
had  cherished  the  delusion  that  the  blacksmith  had  equipped 
me  sufficiently  for  my  end,  but  now  I  was  only  too  well  aware  I 
could  not  die.  I  clung  to  life.  I  clutched  at  it  with  every 
fibre  strained  to  grasp  the  fleeting  thing.  But  it  mocked  me  ! 
I  could  feel  it  ooze  from  my  nerveless  fingers.  It  laughed  at 
me.  It  was  going  from  me.  I  prayed  for  it  to  stay,  I  implored 
it,  I  begged  it,  yet  it  mocked  me  !  As  soon  as  daylight  came  it 
would  desert  me.  Every  minute,  every  second  it  was  fleeting 
gradually  away.  I  implored  it  to  stay  a  while ;  only  a  little 
time.  I  went  down  on  my  knees  and  besought  it.  I  cried  to 


THE  SIGNAL  OF  DEATH.  325 

it,  I  wailed  to  it,  yet  it  mocked  me.  My  hands  and  brow  grew  cold, 
and  my  body  shivered.  Following  that  the  fever  rose  and 
burnt  me  with  a  consuming  fire.  My  wound  was  a  live  coal, 
in  my  side.  I  cried  out  in  anguish, -but  the  walls  of  the  cell 
were  unresponsive.  Frenzy  seized  me  ;  I  tore  my  hair  and  bit 
my  hands,  and  beat  my  head  on  the  walls  and  the  mattress,  and 
raved  and  raged  and  sobbed.  The  tempest  of  my  madness 
grew,  but  my  screams  and  cries  were  unavailing.  The  dawn 
must  see  the  end. 

A  muffled  noise  came  thro'  the  grating  of  the  cell.  'Twas  the 
dull  blows  of  the  carpenters'  hammers.  They  were  setting  up 
the  scaffold. 

I  snatched  up  the  rug  and  blanket,  and  buried  my  head 
therein,  but  those  devilish  sounds  still  beset  me.  I  thrust  my 
fingers  hard  into  mine  ears,  but  to  what  purpose?  The 
hammers  never  ceased.  Then  other  noises  forced  themselves 
upon  the  ear.  A  murmur,  a  gentle  creeping  murmur  like  the 
sea,  rose  stealthily  and  mingled  with  the' other  dreadful  sounds. 
It  grew  and  grew,  till  it  was  hoarse  and  maleficent.  It  arose 
from  thousands  of  throats,  and  their  owners  were  gathered  with- 
out in  full  view  of  the  scaffold.  They  were  there  to  witness  a 
cheap  entertainment. 

The  babbling  multitude  had  come  from  north,  south,  east,  and 
west  to  enjoy  itself ;  and  included  godless  men  and  godly  ones. 
And  the  godly  ones  :  far  better  rob  the  Church  than  rob  an 
honest  man  of  an  execution.  Fancy  the  righteous  creature  not 
to  be  permitted  to  stand  in  front  of  the  scaffold,  and  not  to  be 
allowed  to  howl  at  the  criminal,  and  shake  his  fist  at  him,  and 
spit  upon,  and  fill  the  air  with  abhorrent  malediction.  Imagine 
this  honest  fellow  not  being  allowed  to  shake  his  head,  and  sigh, 
and  groan,  and  exclaim  with  pious  fervor  as  that  criminal  dies 
before  his  eyes,  "  Oh,  what  an  example  !  " 

The  execution  over,  the  sainted  gentleman  will  hie  homeward 
to  read  a  homily  to  his  friends  and  family  upon  the  enormity  of 
sin,  and  the  fruit  it  bears ;  and  proceed  to  dilate  upon  the  glory 
of  honesty  and  uprightness,  and  will  sleep  in  peace  o'  nights, 
firm  in  the  conviction  that  he  hath  discharged  a  duty  due  to  him- 
self and  his  fellow-men. 

How  excellent  thou  art  to  be  sure,  sir  !  Nevertheless,  kinsmen, 
I  would  have  you  observe  that  some  are  born  to  wealth  and 
affluence,  and  never  know  the  feel  of  an  empty  belly.  Their 
granaries  and  coffers  are  forever  full.  Then  there  are  others 
who  cry  aloud  for  bread,  who  know  not  a  roof  on  a  winter's 
night.  Well,  what  of  them  ?  Surely  it  is  their  function  to 


326  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

provide  an  example  for  Master  Honesty,  the  lord  of  the  manor, 
and  to  furnish  him  with  the  sight  of  an  execution,  that  he  may 
borrow  self-esteem  therefrom,  and  have  an  example  for  his 
children,  and  a  pretext  to  perambulate  his  piety. 

The  sounds  of  horror  increased  even  as  the  crowd  did.  I 
could  not  lie  down  and  listen.  Half  mad  I  staggered  about 
the  cell,  and  bruised  myself  on  the  brickwork.  Yet  the  noise 
increased. 

It  was  a  heavy,  close,  dull  night,  with  a  storm  evidently  in 
the  air.  I  could  scarce  see  my  hands  before  my  face,  so  thick 
were  the  clouds  that  obscured  the  moon. 

As  the  time  of  the  dawn  drew  nearer,  I  grovelled  on  the  cold 
stone  floor.  'Twas  the  coolest  spot  I  could  find  for  my  burning 
head.  Verily,  but  a  short  time  was  left.  And  then  my  heart 
jumped  into  my  throat  as  I  heard  footsteps  along  the  corridor, 
and  saw  the  glint  of  a  light.  I  had  just  time  enough  to  seek 
my  couch  ere  the  key  grated  in  the  lock.  The  heavy  door 
opened,  and  two  men  entered.  The  foremost  of  the  twain  was 
the  governor,  bearing  a  bunch  of  keys  and  a  lanthorn. 

Surely  my  time  had  come,  for  methought  his  companion  was 
the  executioner.  He  was  a  very  little  fellow,  darkly  enveloped 
in  a  cloak.  They  approached  my  mattress. 

"  So  this  is  the  rogue,"  said  the  little  man  in  a  thick,  husky 
voice. 

"  Yes,  your  honor,"  answered  the  governor. 

Perchance  some  of  you  may  disbelieve  the  facts  I  set  down 
now.  You  are  quite  at  liberty  to  do  so;  but  I  remind  you. 
were  they  truthless  I  should  not  now  be  relating  my  adventures. 

"  Master  Thompson,"  said  the  little  man  again,  "  what  is  that 
document  I  see  just  peeping  out  of  the  prisoner's  breeches 
pocket  ?  Kindly  seize  it,  and  hand  it  over  to  my  custody." 

"  Which,  your  honor  ?  What,  your  honor  ?  Where,  your 
honor?"  inquired  the  flustered  governor,  bending  down  and 
rummaging  my  person. 

Suddenly  his  eyes  nearly  bolted  out  of  his  head,  and  I  con- 
fess my  heart  stood  still,  for  the  little  man  bent  down  too,  and 
rammed  the  muzzle  of  a  pistol  to  the  governor's  forehead. 

"Not  a  murmur,  or  y'are  a  corpse."  Thus  spake  the  gen- 
tleman with  the  pistol. 

Next  he  drew  another  hand  from  underneath  the  folds  of  the 
cloak,  and  in  it  I  beheld  a  curious  little  phial.  He  pulled  out 
the  cork  with  his  teeth,  then  said  to  his  victim  in  a  subdued 
tone — 

"  Drink  this,  Master  Thompson,  without  speech  or  delay. 


THE  SIGNAL  OF  DEATH.  327 

'Twill  not  kill  you.  'Tis  but  a  sleeping  draught,  and  ye  must 
sleep  whilst  I  transact  a  little  business.  Time  is  scant,  and  I 
have  much  to  do.  Drink!" 

The  bewildered  governor  took  it  hesitatingly  in  his  hand,  but 
did  not  make  any  sign  of  swallowing  the  draught.  Thereupon 
his  assailant  whispered  a  peremptory  threat ;  whereat,  with  a 
frightened,  dismal  glance,  the  victim  tossed  off  the  drug  whilst 
his  enemy  grunted  satisfaction.  The  pistol-holder  still  kept 
that  weapon  hard  by  the  governor's  cranium,  till  in  a  little  while 
the  victim  yawned  and  rubbed  his  eyes,  and  a  minute  later  he 
dropped  his  head  close  by  me  in  excess  of  drowsiness,  and  fell 
fast  asleep. 

Meanwhile  I  knelt  on  my  couch  half-petrified  with  amaze- 
ment. What  could  it  all  mean  ?  I  was  soon  to  learn.  No 
sooner  had  the  governor  gone  to  sleep,  thanks  to  the  potion, 
than  another  and  well-remembered  voice  came  out  of  the  folds 
of  the  cloak.  It  bade  me  rise,  and  make  not  the  slightest 
noise.  It  was  the  voice  of  Peter  Whipple.  He  had  come  to 
save  me.  Faith  !  neither  mind  nor  body  were  in  any  condition 
for  any  exercise  whatever ;  yet  no  sooner  did  I  hear  his  voice 
and  his  words  than  my  strength  rushed  back,  and,  dazed  with 
wonderment,  I  sought  to  do  his  commands. 

He  impressed  on  me  silence  and  expedition.  First  he  pro- 
duced a  thick  cloak  similar  to  his  own,  ordered  me  to  envelop 
my  person  therein,  then  proffered  me  a  phial,  but  I  promise 
you  the  contents  of  it  were  somewhat  different  to  the  other 
one. 

With  stealthy  footsteps  we  went  out  of  the  cell  together, 
leaving  the  unfortunate  governor  snoring  with  his  head  on  the 
mattress.  Having  already  secured  the  sleeping  custodian's 
keys,  Master  Whipple  locked  the  cell  door  after  us.  He  then 
bade  me  follow  close  at  his  heels,  and  he  would  pilot  me 
aright. 

The  great  building  itself  seemed  quite  deserted  by  the  turn- 
keys and  the  various  officers  of  the  jail.  My  true  friend  led 
me  along  a  labyrinth  of  corridors,  down  steps,  and  up  others, 
through  several  doorways,  and  out  at  last  into  the  blessed  air 
of  heaven.  We  ne'er  once  encountered  any  person.  Pete 
seemed  endowed  with  the  most  marvellous  knowledge  of  his 
whereabouts,  and  never  halted  in  his  course,  but  appeared  to 
know  every  nook  and  corner  of  the  prison. 

When  we  reached  the  yard  it  was  so  dark  that  we  had  to 
grope  our  way  along,  yet  Pete  never  swerved,  but  took  me  across 
it  to  a  small  wicket  let  into  the  outer  wall  of  the  jail.  With 


328  Hf/STKESS  DOROTHY  MARl'LV. 

the  governor's  keys  he  unlocked  it ;  we  stepped  together  into 
the  world  outside  ;  and  I  was  a  free  man  once  more.  We  were 
now  at  the  back  of  the  jail,  whilst  in  front  were  thousands 
awaiting  the  dawn. 

\Ye  went  along  several  deserted  by-streets,  and  thus  left  the 
town  behind  us,  without  being  once  accosted  or  molested.  I 
could  not  then  grasp  the  entire  significance  of  this  sudden 
metamorphosis.  Arrived  at  the  Bridgwater  road,  mine  host  of 
the  King's  Head  asked  me  whither  I  intended  to  fly.  He  de- 
clared his  own  hostel,  though  quite  at  my  service,  would  not 
be  a  safe  place.  However,  when  he  told  me  the  King's  men 
had  returned  to  London,  and  that  they  would  have  nobody  to 
lead  them  in  their  search,  I  decided  at  once  to  return  to  the 
farm,  for  none  knew  who  my  parents  were,  and  certainly  the 
pursuit  would  not  be  nearly  so  hot  now  it  was  left  to  the  sheriff 
only. 

1  promised  to  pay  Pete  a  visit  as  soon  as  possible,  that  he 
might  clear  up  many  strange  matters,  and  that  I  might  bring 
him  a  reward  in  kind,  if  possible,  for  his  magnificent  services. 
With  an  honest  hand-grip  I  left  him,  and  that  was  all  the  thanks 
I  could  muster  at  the  moment,  my  heart  being  too  full  for  my 
tongue  to  be  of  any  service. 

I  set  out  for  the  hills  as  briskly  as  possible,  for  despite  the 
darkness,  I  was  able  from  long  practice  to  find  my  way.  Yet, 
ere  long,  I  became  aware  of  my  inflamed  wound  and  my  weak- 
ness. Cruel  spasms  of  pain  staggered  my  steps,  and  now  the 
danger  was  past  for  the  nonce,  my  feet  grew  heavy  as  lead. 
'Twas  a  weary  process  this  journey  to  the  farm  ;  tho'  my  mind 
was  still  much  occupied  with  the  most  marvellous  circumstances 
of  that  night.  I  could  not  fathom  how  Pete  had  managed  the 
matter  in  so  wonderful  a  manner. 

'Twas  a  long  while  before  I  had  traversed  the  hills.  Grad- 
ually the  east  lightened  ;  and  I  was  dragging  a  pain-stricken 
body  over  the  heather  when  the  path  became  more  and  more 
distinct.  Suddenly  I  stopped  and  turned  ;  and  looking  long 
and  fixedly  at  the  eastern  sky,  beheld  the  dawn  in  its  beauty 
and  its  kindliness.  And  this  was  the  signal  of  death.  There- 
upon, for  the  first  time  after  my  renunciation  of  God  in  the 
shadow  of  my  father's  gibbet,  I  fell  upon  my  knees  and  blessed 
Him. 


THE  HOME-COMING.  329 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

THE    HOME-COMING. 

I  TOOK  the  turn  for  Chilverley.  My  heart  almost  over- 
flowed with  thankfulness  at  the  extraordinary  revelation  of 
God's  mercy.  Nevertheless,  I  had  an  irksome  journey  home- 
ward, and  the  longer  I  kept  the  road  the  severer  became  my 
suffering.  My  teeth  chattered  under  the  nipping  morning  air, 
each  limb  had  a  palsy,  and  my  body  was  racked  with  pain. 
But  the  nerving  thought  of  freedom  prevented  my  fainting  by 
the  wayside,  though  at  every  score  paces  I  was  compelled  to 
halt  and  rest.  Thus  I  dragged  myself  along,  and  it  appeared 
hours  hence  ere  I  set  foot  in  our  rickyard. 

As  I  slowly  passed  the  sweet  familiar  scenes  which  I  was 
spared  to  see  again,  the  tears  were  in  my  eyes,  though  they 
were  not  unmingled  with  a  tinge  of  gall,  when  I  thought  how 
such  bounties  had  been  vouchsafed  to  me,  the  weakest  and 
most  errant  of  God's  creatures,  who,  at  the  first  assault  of  mis- 
fortune, had  turned  from  Him  and  had  deserted  to  His  arch- 
enemy— the  devil.  Ay,  there  were  all  the  old  landmarks — the 
duck-pond,  the  dove-cotes,  the  hayloft,  the  bean-stack,  the  old 
house  itself,  the  kitchen  window,  and  the  kitchen  door.  And  at 
sight  of  the  kitchen  door,  I  stopped  to  get  breath,  because  a  great 
ordeal  was  before  me.  Then  I  went  forward  with  creeping  steps, 
lifted  the  latch,  and  tottered  inside.  Mother,  in  speechless 
misery,  sate  upright  in  an  armchair  near  the  fireplace.  The  two 
girls  sate  a  distance  off,  huddled  together,  Dorothy's  head  on 
Betty's  shoulder.  Both  were  staring  hard  and  vacantly  into  the 
fire.  The  place  seemed  instinct  with  the  very  atmosphere  of 
death  ;  its  horror  was  reflected  in  the  wordless  terror  of  those 
three  faces.  Their  cheeks  were  whiter  than  the  breakfast  table- 
cloth, yet  their  eyes  were  strained  and  dry.  Mother,  looking  to- 
wards the  door,  was  the  first  to  see  the  spectre,  and  at  sight  of  it 
she  screamed,  lurched,  and  fell  forward  on  her  face.  What  then 
happened  I  cannot  rightly  tell,  because  I  was  seized  with  dizzi- 
ness, and  my  brain  turned  to  a  kind  of  vertigo.  But  I  have  a 
distinct  remembrance  of  my  darling  crying  out,  "  Speak,  Ned, 
speak  !  Is  it  really  thee  ?  "  and  of  feeling  her  warm  lips  on  my 
cheek. 


330  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

After  that,  the  room  swirled  faster  and  faster  round  me,  my 
limbs  tottered,  though  what  was  the  next  event  I  cannot  say 
for  certain.  I  know  I  found  myself  in  bed  without  any  effort 
on  my  own  part,  and  that  I  lay  for  a  weary  while  in  a  manner 
scarcely  sensible,  burned  with  inward  fire.  I  remember  tossing 
and  writhing,  head  chaotic,  and  body  consumed  by  fever.  Yet 
throughout  this  purgatory  there  was  one  who  ne'er  left  the  side 
of  my  uneasy  bed.  'Twas  one  who  had  wide  brown  eyes,  and 
gentle  soothing  fingers.  'Twas  one  who  assuaged  my  thirst 
when  I  cried  for  water,  one  who  plied  cold  cloths  about  my 
brow,  and  with  a  cold  light  touch  sometimes  caressed  my  fore- 
head. Once  I  recollect  an  awful  agony  convulsed  my  side  as 
though  red-hot  irons  seared  it.  And  I  called  on  God  to  be 
merciful  to  me,  a  sinner,  for  'twas  as  though  the  last  bond  of 
life  was  breaking.  But,  in  the  course  of  time,  the  fever  died 
down  slowly,  my  pains  grew  less,  and  my  brain  came  back  to 
its  normal  state. 

Then  I  heard  from  mother's  lips  how  my  darling,  to  the 
wonder  of  all  the  household — that  a  mere  girl  could  do  a  thing 
so  bold,  so  brave  and  skilful — had  saved  my  life,  by  burning 
out  the  morbid  flesh  from  my  neglected  wound,  and  had  thus 
performed  a  cautery  upon  it,  though  during  the  operation  my 
cries  had  rang  through  all  the  house,  and  though  my  noble 
mistress  had  fainted  immediately  after  its  performance.  Not 
but  what  she  stoutly  disclaimed  all  knowledge  of  this  latter 
feat,  declaring  'twas  a  calumny  invented  by  jealous-minded 
folk  to  set  a  blot  upon  her  character.  Be  this  as  it  may,  'twas 
quite  a  natural  thing  to  do,  for  it  was  positively  unheard  of 
that  any  other  than  a  chirurgeon  should  handle  raw  wounds 
with  such  determination. 

In  the  matter  of  the  nursing  Dorothy  tyrannized  over  mother 
and  Betty.  She  took  the  entire  responsibilities  of  the  case 
upon  herself,  and  by  some  means  bore  it  through.  As  I 
learned  at  a  later  date,  whene'er  at  this  time  she  said  a  thing, 
she  did  it,  in  spite  of  the  utmost  opposition  ;  yet  when  others  of- 
fereda  suggestion,  it  was  only  carried  out  subject  to  her  approval. 

Now  this  is  really  singular,  seeing  that  mother  and  Betty  had 
a  large  faith  in  their  own  abilities.  Yet  the  young  maid,  at  the 
very  outset,  whilst  the  other  two  were  still  unnerved  by  the 
great  shock  of  my  return  took  sole  command  of  me,  and  kept  it 
throughout  my  illness.  And  when  they  came  to  tend  me  on 
their  own  account,  they  found  my  darling  in  full  possession,  and 
she  said  at  once,  without  any  disrespect  for  any  persons,  "  that  if 
her  lad  was  left  to  her  she  would  undertake  to  pull  him  through  ; 


THE  HOME-COMING.  331 

yet  if  others  had  a  finger  in  the  pie  [yes,  she  called  it  "  pie  !  "] 
she  would  not  answer  for  the  consequences." 

This  was  taken  in  excellent  good  part,  for  they  both  saw  my 
love  so  bold,  so  ardent,  and  determined,  that  they  knew  it  was 
said  in  excess  of  earnestness,  and  without  meaning  offence  to 
anybody.  Accordingly  she  sat  by  my  bedside  night  and  day, 
refusing  rest  or  offers  of  assistance,  but  just  watched,  and 
worked  and  waited. 

Thus  there  came  a  time  when  my  speech  was  once  more  ra- 
tional, and  my  head  less  afflicted  ;  and  presently  a  joyous  day 
when  I  was  allowed  below  stairs  for  one  hour  only  to  begin 
with.  The  women  folk,  without  any  such  thing  as  parley,  turned 
Master  John  out  of  the  chimney  corner,  and  set  me  in  it  with 
cushions  for  my  back,  rugs  for  my  knees,  and  a  hassock  for 
rny  feet.  Yet  what  pleased  me  more  than  anything  was  to  see 
John  sacrifice  his  chair  with  a  tolerable  good  grace.  And  the 
first  words  Dorothy  said  to  me,  after  I  was  snugly  installed 
therein,  were — 

"  Ned,  Dutch  Will  hath  put  to  sea !  " 

She  spoke  them  softly,  so  that  none  but  I  might  hear.  Now, 
this  speech  surprised  me  greatly  for  the  time,  seeing  that  it  had 
been  uttered  at  such  a  joyful  moment  for  us  both.  But  no 
sooner  did  I  behold  my  darling's  lustrous  eyes  and  her  eager 
face,  and  the  look  of  power  that  had  come  upon  it  suddenly, 
than  their  full  significance  was  borne  upon  my  sluggish  mind. 

In  the  Dutchman's  movements  and  the  success  of  his  mighty 
enterprise  lay  our  future.  So  long  as  the  Stuart  held  the  throne, 
we  must  both  remain  outlaws,  and  be  kept  apart  by  stress  of 
circumstances ;  yet,  if  Prince  William  could  by  any  means  be 
placed  permanently  on  it,  our  troubles  with  the  law  would  then 
exist  no  longer.  Thus  every  action  of  the  Protestant  cham- 
pion was  eagerly  noted  by  the  pair  of  us,  and  every  effort  he 
made  towards  hastening  the  coming  struggle  we  hailed  with 
joyful  satisfaction.  All  men  in  England  at  this  time  cast  their 
thoughts  across  the  water  towards  him  who  was  to  deliver  the 
kingdom  from  the  papist  and  the  bigot.  And  it  was  plain  to 
everybody  that  the  throne  could  only  be  snatched  from  its  pres- 
ent occupant  by  the  arbitrament  of  blows.  Thus  the  maid  and 
I  waited  with  ill-concealed  impatience  for  the  day  when  I  could 
draw  my  sword  and  go  fight  for  both  our  rights  and  liberties. 

It  may  have  happened,  kinsmen,  that  some  of  yon  have  been 
tempted  to  do  my  mistress  an  injustice  by  virtue  of  my  poor 
powers  of  narrative,  or — quite  as  likely — by  virtue  of  the  thick- 
ness of  your  heads.  Perhaps  you  may  wish  to  know  how  it 


332  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR  VIN. 

was  that  Dorothy,  professing  to  love  me  so  very  much,  should 
yet  be  so  willing  and  so  anxious  for  me  to  risk  my  life  when  I 
could  easily  bide  at  home  and  let  others  do  the  risking. 

In  the  first  place,  she  was  so  utterly  fearless  herself,  that  this 
quality  was  the  one  she  cherished,  cultivated,  and  admired  the 
most  in  me  ;  and  as  she  told  me,  just  previous  to  my  duello 
with  the  Frenchman,  "  to  have  a  coward's  fears  for  a  true  man's 
skin  was  only  to  insult  him,  and  to  fall  in  his  estimation." 

Now,  by  this  term  "  true  man,"  without  any  manner  of  doubt 
she  meant  a  fighting  man,  for,  thanks  to  her  martial  rearing  by 
that  fierce  warrior,  her  father,  she  ever  adjudged  man's  real 
vocation  to  be  to  fight  for  his  hearth  and  honor  ;  or,  in  times 
of  peace,  when  the  trade  was  quiet,  sooner  than  not  fight  at  all, 
it  behoved  him  to  draw  his  sword  for  a  little  entertainment,  and 
to  keep  his  hand  in.  Well  do  I  recollect  her  saying  to  me,  on 
one  occasion,  "  Ned,  my  lad,  I  do  not  know  that  your  virtues 
are  any  nicer  than  your  neighbors',  neither  am  I  aware  that 
your  intellect  is  greater  than  is  barely  decent  for  a  gentleman  ; 
but  your  sword-arm,  dear  lad,  is  the  thing  that  puts  silly  no- 
tions in  my  head,  and  makes  me  admire  you  from  a  distance." 
Whereupon  she  sighed,  a  splendid  light  came  in  her  eyes,  and 
every  feature  seemed  inspired  with  pride.  And  when  I  asked 
for  the  interpretation  of  that  sigh,  she  answered,  her  voice  full 
of  awe  and  reverence,  "  I  sigh  because  that  noble  arm  o'  thine 
sets  you  so  far  above  me,  and  because  it  does  not  appear  a 
thing  in  reason  that  a  girl  like  I  should  ever  gain  you  for  mine 
own." 

Thus,  in  face  of  this,  I  make  bold  to  ask  you,  kinsmen,  was 
it  at  all  likely  that  one  with  so  fine  a  spirit  would  seek  to  deter 
me  from  employing  the  gifts  of  which  nature  had  given  me  such 
a  liberal  endowment  ? 

And  I  will  add  yet  another  reason,  so  that  none  of  you  shall 
have  excuse  to  mistake  my  lifelong  darling's  high-strung, 
romantic  nature,  for  cruelty  and  hardness.  She  had  faith  and 
fatalism.  Her  .prodigious  faith  in  my  prowess  shamed  me  at 
times,  it  was  so  deep  and  so  unbending.  As  for  her  fatalism, 
it  was  greater  than  that  of  any  woman  I  ever  knew,  and  quite 
rivalled  that  of  men  who  are  soldiers  born,  who  possess  this 
strange  quality  in  more  abundance  than  plain  civilians.  She 
ever  quoted  her  old  father's  tenet  that  God  never  left  aught  to 
occur  as  chance  directed  it,  but  that  a  man's  term  of  life  was 
determined  at  his  birth,  and  that  no  amount  of  danger  in  the 
interim  would  cause  him  to  quit  the  earth  ere  his  appointed 
time,  and  no  amount  of  care  would  let  him  live  beyond  it.  But 


THE  HOME-COMING.  333 

while  I  have  been  safeguarding  a  precious  name  from  defama- 
tion, I  have  been  forgetting  myself,  who  am  the  chief,  if  even 
the  most  unworthy  person  in  this  story. 

Day  by  day  I  mended  slowly,  yet  always  had  a  haunting  fear 
upon  me.  Many  a  night  the  face  of  Captain  Pringle  afflicted 
my  dreams.  He  had  returned  to  town,  tho'  at  any  moment  he 
might  come  back  reinforced  for  the  purpose  of  my  recapture. 
And  what  added  to  my  fears  was  the  knowledge  mother  one  day 
imparted.  She  declared  that  on  the  previous  occasion  the 
King's  men  had  received  sufficient  information  to  make  them 
suspect  Chilverley  of  harboring  me,  and  that  for  two  days  and 
nights  the  valley  had  been  carefully  watched  by  them.  This 
thought  gave  me  many  qualms,  and  ever  kept  me  on  the  tiptoe 
of  anxiety  regarding  news  of  their  reappearance. 

That  last  night  in  Taunton  jail  dwelt  often  in  my  mind  ;  and 
the  thudding  of  the  hammers  and  the  murmurs  of  the  multitude 
gave  me  many  wakeful  hours,  and  put  cold  beads  of  sweat  upon 
my  forehead.  And  what  made  this  nightmare  of  sights  and 
sounds  all  the  more  appalling  was  because  I  knew  God  had 
been  so  merciful,  and  that  I  deserved  the  punishment  the  law 
designed  to  give  me.  It  will  be  seen  from  this  that  two  great 
thoughts,  one  of  hope  and  one  of  fear,  ran  side  by  side  in  my 
brain  throughout  every  hour  of  my  existence.  Who  would  come 
first,  Prince  William  of  Orange  or  Captain  Joshua  Pringle  ? 
The  hopes  and  fears  begat  by  this  hard  problem  seemed  to 
churn  in  my  brain  till  my  head  would  throb  with  very  weariness. 
And  when  I  thought  of  the  Dutchman's  coming  I  would  feel  a 
thrill  of  joy,  yet  when  I  pondered  on  the  law's  strong  arm  and 
its  tender  mercies,  I  would  lie  awake  for  hours  in  the  silent 
night,  to  weep  softly  to  myself  and  to  rise  with  red  eyes  in  the 
morning. 

Now  I  know  quite  well  this  is  a  pitiable  thing  for  a  man  to 
do,  and  a  still  more  pitiable  thing  to  confess  it  afterwards.  But 
this  I  will  at  once  admit,  and  will  at  the  same  time  unburthen 
my  mind  of  a  far  bitterer  and  far  more  cruel  secret.  It  is  one 
that  makes  these  lines  come  from  my  pen  with  pain — I  was  no 
longer  a  strong  man  !  I  was  cut  down  in  the  pride  of  life  ; 
made  old  before  my  time.  The  old  animal  courage  was  there, 
the  general  outline  of  the  body,  and  the  old  hopes  and  aspira- 
tions ;  tho'  instinct  told  me  that  a  great  cord  of  life  had  snapped 
• — the  cord  of  fire  and  strength,  the  cord  of  buoyant  spirit  and 
firm  endurance.  At  first  I  tried  to  laugh  at  it,  then  to  thrust  it 
aside,  and  then  to  disbelieve  it.  But  all  these  attempts  were 
vain.  The  ugly  truth  steadily  impressed  itself  upon  me.  Then 


334  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

I  became  frightened  and  oppressed  with  morbid  terrors.  Yet 
the  hard  fiat  had  gone  forth,  and  I  had  to  bend  the  head  and 
bear  it.  From  that  day  to  this  it  hath  abided  with  me.  Twas 
as  though  my  young  brain  had  been  blighted,  and  my  young 
limbs  bereft  of  stamina  and  vigor.  Henceforward  I  was  a  creature 
without  backbone,  without  resource,  without  reserve  of  strength. 
My  spirit  was  broken,  my  soul  was  crushed,  my  tenacity  was 
withered.  I  could  feel  the  claws  of  suffering  as  if  for  all  time 
they  had  been  dug  into  my  soul.  This  was  the  penalty  exacted 
of  the  flesh  for  days  and  days  of  torture,  for  weeks  of  misery,  of 
striving,  of  longing,  of  terror,  of  despair.  Very  rarely  hath  man 
to  pass  through  such  awful  crises  as  I  had  had  to  do  in  one 
short  epoch.  And,  kinsmen,  whoever  that  man  may  be,  he  can 
rest  assured  nature  will  exact  full  payment  for  the  undue  strain 
upon  her. 

To  all  outward  seeming  I  was  still  the  same,  and,  knowing 
this,  I  carefully  hid  the  dread  secret  from  them  all.  The  cruel 
fact  added  one  more  skeleton  to  my  cupboard,  for  every  hour 
since  that  discovery  I  have  carried  a  young  death  in  my  heart, 
and  a  fear  within  my  soul. 

As  time  sped,  and  autumn  continued  its  work  of  desolation, 
the  nights  closed  in,  the  cold  winds  stripped  tree  and  hedgerow, 
and  nature  changed  from  cheerful  green  to  sombre  brown.  My 
wound  took  excellent  ways,  as  in  such  hands  it  was  bound  to 
do  ;  my  health  came  back,  and  my  limbs  were  knit  into  some 
semblance  of  their  former  firmness. 

One  day  we  heard  that  Dutch  Will  was  expected,  whilst  the 
next  rumors  were  rife  that  a  big  expedition  was  being  organized 
in  London  to  arrest  Black  Ned.  Thus  I  was  kept  in  a  rotation 
of  elation  and  solicitude.  However,  one  night,  ere  any  great 
event  befell,  a  thing  happened  that  fully  deserves  some  mention. 
One  evening,  about  the  middle  of  October,  when  the  rain  was 
falling  in  torrents,  and  dripping  monotonously  on  the  dead 
leaves  in  the  orchard,  we  were  all  ranged  round  the  fire.  John 
and  I  were  smoking  meditatively,  and  the  women-kind  were  try- 
ing to  play  commerce,  to  talk,  and  to  cheat  each  other  at  one 
and  the  same  time.  Presently  a  loud  knock  came  to  the  kitchen 
door  and  startled  the  five  of  us.  An  evening  visitor,  except 
Tobe  Hancock,  was  quite  an  event  at  Chilverley.  'Twas 
certainly  not  the  blacksmith,  for  he  ne'er  stopped  to  knock,  but 
always  walked  straight  in. 

"  Make  haste  up  the  chimney,  Ned ;  they  have  come  for 
thee  !  "  quoth  Dorothy,  laughing,  whilst  John  made  for  the  door 
and  opened  it. 


THE  HOME-COMING.  335 

"  Does  Ned  Armstrong  bide  within  ?  "  asked  a  voice  there 
was  no  mistaking,  and  the  next  instant  a  small  personage  hopped 
between  the  shadow  of  the  door  and  John's  big  body. 

'Twas  Peter  Whipple.  For  a  moment  he  stood  wiping  his 
muddy  boots  on  the  mat,  whilst  the  wet  dripped  from  his  cloak 
and  formed  quite  a  stream  on  the  floor.  However,  no  sooner 
did  he  behold  the  ladies  than  he  whipped  off  his  hat,  and  bowed 
to  them  with  London  courtesy. 

Instantly  I  left  my  seat,  shook  his  hand  warmly,  and  said,  by 
way  of  introduction,  "This  is  the  gentleman  who  delivered  me 
from  death." 

This  was  all-sufficient.  To  be  sure,  at  the  announcement, 
John  retired  silently  into  his  corner ;  but  in  a  trice  Dorothy 
was  setting  Peter's  hat  and  cloak  to  dry  before  the  scullery  fire, 
mother  was  pouring  forth  her  thanks,  and  Betty  was  preparing 
a  meal  for  his  delectation. 

I  may  here  state  that  on  the  night  of  my  escape  I  had  told 
Peter  of  my  name  and  place  of  refuge,  which  methought  was 
the  least  thing  I  could  do  to  show  my  confidence  in  a  friend  so 
true.  He  expressed  himself  well  satisfied  with  my  restoration 
to  health,  but  declared  he  should  scarce  have  known  me  out  of 
doors,  and  that  I  had  aged  at  least  ten  years. 

I  shivered  at  this  remark,  and  indulged  in  melancholy 
thoughts.  Albeit  supper  drove  them  all  away.  'Twas  as  happy 
a  meal  as  any  I  remember.  Betty  was  constantly  stacking 
Peter's  platter  with  the  choicest  the  board  could  offer,  and  con- 
tinually saying,  "  Have  some  of  this,  Master  Whipple ;  I  can 
recommend  it,"  whilst  mother  was  forever  looking  at  him  with 
shining  eyes. 

He  bore  all  this  without  turning  a  hair,  but  simply  went  on 
eating.  Howbeit  Mistress  Dorothy,  in  the  end,  made  his  face 
kindle  with  a  look  of  admiration.  For  that  vivacious  maiden, 
by  some  means,  filched  mother's  keys,  took  a  candle,  and  tripped 
down  into  the  cellar.  And  when  she  returned  she  carried  a 
grimly  cobwebbed  bottle.  'Twas  delightful  to  see  her  withdraw 
the  dusty  cork  from  the  black  neck  of  it  very  deftly,  then  to  see 
her  purse  up  her  pretty  lips,  as  she  held  a  glass  to  the  light, 
and  with  the  utmost  care  pour  very  gently  forth  the  rosy  liquor. 
Then  it  was  Pete  became  mightily  interested,  for  in  her 
practised  fingers  'twas  well-nigh  a  work  of  art  the  way  she  kept 
the  ancient  crust  entire.  Next  she  presented  the  brimming 
violet-scented  wine  to  him,  a  smile  rippling  round  her  eyes 
and  mouth. 

"  There,  Master  Whipple,  this  will  drive  the  cold  out.     'Tis 


336  MSSTKESS  DOROTHY  MAR VIN. 

the  Chiteau  Noir  vintage  of  '41.  I'll  warrant  three  glasses  of 
it  would  put  an  ordinary  man  under  the  table  ;  but,  sir,  thou'rt 
by  no  means  an  ordinary  man,  that  is  if  deeds  are  aught  to  go 
by." 

Now  this  speech,  delivered  with  all  her  high-bred  graceful- 
ness, and  accompanied  by  her  insinuating  charm,  completely 
knocked  Peter  Whipple  from  his  vaunted  cynical  serenity.  He 
bounced  up  like  a  shuttle-cock,  took  the  wine  from  her,  saying — 

"  Your  health,  my  fair  mistress,"  and  drank  it  with  indescrib- 
able politeness. 

Henceforward  his  courteous  and  gallant  behavior  would  have 
done  credit  to  a  Buckingham.  This  methought  was  very  strange 
in  Peter  Whipple,  and  it  tickled  me  very  much.  'Twas  the  first 
occasion  I  had  seen  him  in  female  society,  and  when  one  came 
to  think  of  his  harsh  sentiments  towards  the  sex,  his  demeanor 
was  a  thing  to  marvel  at. 

"  Damn  the  women !  "  I  whispered  in  his  ear  on  the  first 
occasion. 

"  Ay,  damn  'em  all  but  that  one,"  he  whispered  back,  looking 
across  at  Dorothy.  "  She  warms  the  cockles  of  my  old  heart. 
'Pon  my  soul,  I'd  have  a — [here  he  wiped  his  old  unlovely  lips] 
were  I " 

Just  then  I  pulled  his  ear,  whereat  he  stopped,  and  saw  much 
meaning  in  my  countenance.  At  least,  I  opine  he  did,  for  he 
murmured,  "Lucky  dog!  lucky  dog!  she's  almost  worthy  of 
Long  Bob  Bickers,"  and  subsided  into  silence. 

Supper  over,  friend  Pete  was  pestered  into  giving  a  full 
account  of  the  things  that  had  wrought  my  deliverance  from 
death.  He  gave  it  with  an  excellent  grace,  though  not  before 
John  had  performed  a  most  irregular  act — indeed,  nought  less 
than  to  charge  his  richest  colored  clay.  He  handed  it  to  the 
story-teller,  that  his  thoughts  might  be  thereby  more  readily 
composed. 

Now  all  along  I  have  fully  recognized  that,  should  I  ever 
come  to  write  my  history  (I  have  had  the  plan  in  my  mind  for 
years),  'twould  be  simply  affectation  in  me  to  try  to  put  in  black 
and  white,  word  for  word,  all  that  Master  Whipple  said,  or  to 
convey  to  paper  his  delightful  way  of  saying  it.  Therefore  I 
asked  him  at  the  time  to  write  it  down,  which  he  very  kindly 
did.  But  before  you  read  what  he  hath  written  I  will  presume 
to  say  a  word.  Though,  undoubtedly,  his  pen  narration  is  very 
fine  and  accurate,  it  lacks  that  wealth  of  warmly  colored  detail 
that  so  embellished  the  efforts  of  his  mouth.  He  was  a  born 
talker.  Beyond  an  hour  he  held  five  people  spell-bound,  and 


SINGULAR  NARRATIVE  OF  PETER  WHIPPLE.       337 

used  every  oratorical  parliamentary  trick  in  vogue  to  supple- 
ment his  story.  Mayhap  his  second  narrative  may  seem  bald 
and  unnatural  to  you — it  certainly  does  to  me  by  comparison 
with  his  first ;  yet  I  would  have  you  remember  that  the  whole 
chronicles  the  feat  of  a  man  of  a  transcendent  genius,  and  that, 
were  the  gist  of  what  he  says  inaccurate,  Black  Ned  would  not 
be  writing  this. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

THE    SINGULAR   NARRATIVE   OF    PETER    WHIPPLE  :    SET   FORTH  BY 
HIMSELF    FOR   THE    INFORMATION    OF    POSTERITY. 

To  me  it  has  occurred  that,  sooner  than  let  a  great  deed  die, 
a  man  should  be  at  pains  to  set  it  down  for  the  behoof  of  others. 
Moreover,  when  I  gave  the  full  narrative  (I  flatter  myself,  in 
my  best  manner)  to  my  juvenile  friend  Armstrong,  he  was  so 
impressed  by  my  natural  abilities  that  he  begged  me  to  put  it 
on  paper  in  mine  own  style  to  give  to  his  children,  since  he 
said  he  might  some  day  chance  to  sit  at  home  and  write  his 
life.  Therefore  being,  as  the  late  Robert  Bickers  always  said, 
very  willing  to  oblige,  I  will  proceed  to  commit  it  to  paper, 
though  1  know  nothing  about  authorship  ;  nor  do  I  want  to. 
'Tis  a  very  idle  trade ;  a  man  who  works  with  three  fingers 
only  must  be  a  lazy  devil,  unless  he  be  a  pickpocket.  Not,  of 
course,  that  I  shall  fub  you  off  with  inferior  matter.  A  man  of 
my  capacity  can  turn  his  hand  to  anything,  and  pass  muster 
with  the  best.  Anyhow,  I  promise  that  it  shall  be  better  written 
than  aught  of  Gentleman  John's.  A  nephew  of  mine,  by  trade 
a  printer,  once  showed  me  a  sheet  of  the  fellow's  manuscript. 
'Twould  have  disgraced  a  pot-boy — letters  ill-formed,  words 
crossed  out  and  written  over,  and  divers  names  that  no  simple 
Christian  uses  ! 

1  suppose  the  man,  being  paid  to  do  what  his  betters  do  for 
nothing,  must  think  it  detrimental  to  his  dignity  to  use  genteel 
king's  English,  or  to  write  a  clerkly  hand.*  But  look  to  your- 
self, John  Dryden  !  Many's  the  time  I've  filled  a  flagon  for 
you — :t\vas  always  small  ale,  and  you'd  wait  for  the  farthing 

*  The  Editor  feels  it  only  kind  to  mention  that  Master  Whipple's  hand- 
writing was,  for  the  seventeenth  century,  almost  copperplate ;  although  his 
sentences,  if  very  ornate,  were  also  friends  to  redundance,  and  were  at 
times  involved,  whilst  his  spelling  was  not  so  strong  as  his  self-esteem. 


338  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR  VIN. 

out.     Look  to  yourself,  I  say  !     I'll  show  the  world  what  Peter 
Whipple  can  do  when  he  dips  the  quill  in  the  ink. 


The  countryside  was  ringing  with  great  news :  Black  Ned, 
the  boldest  rogue  (save  one)  ever  known  in  the  West  had  been 
condemned  to  death  the  previous  day.  He  lay  in  Taunton  jail. 
Three  justices  from  London  had  tried  his  case,  and  twelve 
jurymen  of  the  county  of  Somerset  had  sate  and  heard  his 
crimes  recounted,  and  between  them  had  adjudged  him  guilty 
of  them  all,  had  declared  his  worthless  body  forfeit  to  the 
King,  and  his  sinful  soul  forfeit  to  the  devil. 

There  was  a  little  man  in  Bridgwater  town  who  was  strangely 
exercised  in  mind  over  the  news  of  this  harsh  decision.  A 
very  little  man  he  was  indeed ;  he  stood  but  four  feet  eight 
inches  in  his  shoon — though  tradition  is  sure  to  tell  you  that 
his  brain  was  out  of  all  proportion  to  his  size.  It  was  a  warm 
morning,  and  this  stunted  gentleman  stood  on  the  threshold  of 
his  own  doorway,  with  a  pipe  in  his  mouth  and  his  hands  deep 
in  his  breeches  pockets.  Immediately  over  his  head  a  sign- 
board hung  motionless,  and  artistically  displayed  thereon  was 
a  man  of  high  degree,  a  flowing  periwig  adorning  his  head,  and 
a  monstrous  hook  nose  his  countenance,  whilst  for  the  admira- 
tion of  unlettered  persons,  and  for  the  information  of  the 
passer-by,  "  Ye  King's  Head "  was  writ  underneath  in  letters 
of  gold. 

The  jacketless  person  in  the  hostel  doorway  was  pensive  and 
disconsolate.  A  scowl  trimmed  his  visage  and  a  bad  word  his 
tongue  ;  as  after  staring  straight  and  silently  before  him  for 
twenty  minutes  by  the  clock  of  Bridgwater  parish  church,  his 
lips  parted  of  a  sudden,  and  a  deep  "  Damn  ! "  tripped  down 
the  street  to  mingle  with  the  sweet  air  of  the  countryside.  He 
said  to  himself:  "Ton  my  soul  it's  hard,  very  hard,  and  such 
a  nice  open-handed,  generous  lad  as  well.  He  had  the  makings 
of  a  great  man,  but,  hang  it !  he  hath  got  to  go  like  the  rest  of 
'em.  'Twas  a  shortness  o'  breath  and  three  yards  of  hemp  that 
was  such  a  mighty  trouble  to  mine  old  friend  Long  Bob  Bick- 
ers." Here  these  painful  reflections  were  curtailed  by  the 
appearance  of  a  handsome  youth,  attired  exactly  in  the  mode, 
who  had  a  straight  carriage  and  a  polished  manner.  He  in- 
quired for  Master  Peter  Whipple  with  the  accent  that  comes 
from  France. 

"That's  my  unworthy  self,"  promptly  says  the  man  of  sorrow 
affably.  "  An'  if  my  lord  be  blessed  with  a  thirsty  throttle,  I'll 


SINGULAR  NARRATIVE  OF  PETER  WHIPPLE.       339 

make  so  bold  as  to  set  before  him  the  neatest  flagon  o'  Madeira 
that  ever  winked  in  the  foggy  land  of  England." 

"  Peste,  landlord,  bide  awhile !  I  am  come  upon  another 
matter,  and  one  that  touches  my  private  peace.  I  must  consult 
with  you  apart.'' 

The  man  threw  out  his  words  in  a  breath,  and  in  the  comic 
manner  of  the  foreigner  ;  but  what  pleased  Master  Whipple 
was  the  nervous  glitter  in  his  eyes. 

Immediately  the  gentleman  was  conducted  to  a  nice  little 
parlor  at  the  far  end  of  the  passage.  Arrived  there,  he  de- 
livered the  following  curious  statement  to  a  bewildered  listener, 
who  meanwhile  redonned  his  jacket  out  of  respect  for  his  guest, 
twiddled  his  thumbs,  and  clustered  his  brows  thicker  than  a 
Hampshire  wood : — 

"Master  Innkeeper,  I  am  in  a  hard  strait,  and  come  to  be- 
seech your  help.  Doubtless  you  have  heard  of  the  capture  and 
sentence  of  one  Black  Ned,  a  notorious  highwayman.  I  fought 
the  man  twice,  and  entered  into  a  binding  compact.  I  did 
not  know  his  reputation,  else  I  should  not  have  touched  his 
blade  nor  his  body ;  but  no  matter,  I  found  him  strictly  honor- 
able in  all  particulars.  On  our  sacred  words,  we  swore  on  both 
occasions,  that  the  victor  should  take  the  loser  to  a  place  of 
safety,  providing  the  latter  was  sadly  hurt,  and  the  places  agreed 
upon  were — for  mine  own  person,  the  hostel  of  the  Green  Man, 
Taunton,  and  for  himself  that  of  the  King's  Head,  Bridgwater. 
The  first  time  we  met,  he  was  the  winner,  and  at  serious  risk 
to  his  neck  he  placed  me,  incapacitated  as  I  was,  in  the  place 
of  succor  named.  Then  we  met  again,  and  out  of  pure  con- 
descension to  the  vanquished,  he  fought  me.  On  this  occasion 
I  defeated  and  disabled  him,  and  I  weep  to  tell  you,  as  I  was 
bringing  him  to  your  hostel  his  enemies  met  me  on  the  way, 
and  seeing  his  body,  did  take  it  from  me,  and  now,  by  mine 
own  default,  he  lies  condemned  to  the  scaffold.  I  have  come  for 
your  aid,  as  I  know  of  none  other  to  render  assistance.  Help 
me  save  him,  forgetful  of  cost ;  my  honor  is  at  stake  !  Money 
I  will  not  stint ;  aught  in  reason  shall  reward  you  ;  I  have  great 
estates  in  France." 

The  Frenchman  wrung  his  hands  in  despair,  and  his  face 
spoke  of  shame  and  excitement.  He  talked  much  of  his  honor, 
his  virgin  honor,  and  continued  to  implore  the  assistance  of 
the  innkeeper. 

As  has  been  said,  the  proprietor  of  the  King's  Head  had  an 
uncommon  share  of  brains ;  whereby  his  perspicacity  was 
greater  than  that  of  mankind  in  the  bulk.  Besides,  our  land- 


340  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

lord  had  a  reasoning  cast  of  mind ;  hence  his  intellect  supplies 
what  we  exhibit  hereunder  : 

"  Here  is  a  man  with  money,  and  money  is  the  nucleus  of 
business.  He  is  young  and  a  Frenchman.  He  thinks  his 
honor  is  jeopardized,  and  from  London  experience  I  am  aware 
a  Frenchman's  honor  is  tenderly  made.  He  is  willing  to  pay 
any  sum  in  reason  in  return  for  a  service.  True,  the  service  is 
difficult,  but  bank-notes  strengthen  the  brain.  Again,  it  is  to 
save  the  life  of  a  friend;  and  if  friendship  and  business  cannot 
stimulate  the  mental  faculty,  what  can  ?  I  have  excellent 
reasons  for  undertaking  Black  Ned's  escape.  I  will  procure  it 
for  a  consideration,  a  pretty  substantial  consideration.  Even 
should  I  fail,  if  I  be  wary,  I  need  not  suffer  thereby,  and  shall 
at  least  have  tried  to  save  a  friend.  Certainly,  I  have  not  the 
remotest  idea  at  this  moment  how  the  matter  is  to  be  per- 
formed; but  men  with  my  abilities  need  only  a  quiet  ponder- 
ation  and  we  have  a  plan.  Now,  Peter  Whipple,  1  will  at  once 
put  you  on  your  highest  mettle  by  accepting  a  respectable 
offer." 

This  soliloquy  had  taken  place  in  three  minutes.  We  hope 
the  gist  of  it  is  understood. 

Meanwhile  the  Frenchman  opposite  was  not  nearly  so  en- 
lightened. Therefore,  with  babylike  impatience,  he  drummed 
nervous  fingers  on  the  table,  and  spilt  snuff  as  he  conveyed  it 
to  his  nose. 

The  three  minutes  having  come  to  an  end,  as  all  time  must, 
Master  Whipple,  calm  in  voice  and  manner,  stared  his  applicant 
in  the  face,  and  answered — 

"  Good  sir,  I  have  considered  your  case.  Black  Ned  is  a 
friend  o'  mine,  and  for  no  other  living  soul  would  I  wittingly 
jeopardize  my  neck.  I  am  about  to  endanger  mine  own  valua- 
ble life  (and  I  have  a  wife  and  ten  children)  to  save  this  man's. 
But,  observe,  sir,  I  must  receive  the  sum  of  one  hundred  guineas 
down  as  an  earnest  of  the  bargain,  and  nine  hundred  more  if  I 
succeed  in  effecting  the  highwayman's  liberty.  And,  mark  you, 
'tis  pure  friendship  alone  which  prompts  me  to  make  this 
offer." 

The  count  never  thought  at  all,  but  seized  the  innkeeper's 
hand,  wrung  it,  and  offered  him  every  groat  of  the  money 
demanded  should  he  bring  matters  to  a  successful  issue.  Be  it 
remarked,  this  Frenchman  was  young,  very  young,  with  so  many 
emotions  that  let  us  trust  he  will  lose  the  majority  of  them  ere 
he  reaches  maturity,  else  his  magnificent  patrimony  will  certainly 
have  dwindled  to  a  beggar's  pittance. 


SINGULAR  NARRATIVE  OF  PETER  WHIPPLE.       34! 

No  time  was  lost  in  making  the  bargain,  and  let  there  be  not 
the  slightest  misunderstanding ;  Master  Peter  Whipple  under- 
took for  the  sum  of  one  thousand  guineas  due  a  fortnight  from 
date,  to  deliver  a  notorious  rogue,  one  Black  Ned,  from  jail 
alive. 

Item  :  the  said  Peter  Whipple  at  this  moment  had  no  better 
idea  how  to  accomplish  the  deed  than  the  man  in  the  moon. 

The  Frenchman  left  the  King's  Head  with  hope  springing 
up  in  his  heart.  We  presume  he  made  allowance  for  genius. 
As  for  mine  host,  he  whistled  a  dirge-like  melody,  and  admin- 
istered a  severe  reprimand  to  himself,  as  he  muttered,  "  Burn 
my  soul,  an  old  fool  is  the  worst  o'  fools  !  Had  I  asked  two 
thousand  instead  o'  one  I  must  have  got  it."  Admittedly  this 
was  avarice,  yet  stay,  we  are  here  as  narrator  and  not  as  com- 
mentator. The  worthy  innkeeper  next  gave  clear  orders  to  his 
lad  Tom,  that  he  must  not  under  any  circumstances  be  disturbed 
for  three  hours.  Then  he  locked  the  door  of  the  parlor,  took 
down  his  church-warden  and  his  tobacco  jar  from  the  mantel- 
shelf, set  forth  a  mug,  and  a  jug  of  his  October,  measured  a 
beaker,  sat  down  beside  the  table,  with  knitted  brows,  and 
thought  in  silence  till  his  eyes  grew  dull.  Bear  it  ever  in  mind, 
he  had  not  the  smallest  idea  how  the  deed  was  to  be  accom- 
plished, observing  the  while  with  equal  care,  that  a  thousand 
guineas  is  never  lightly  lost  by  men  of  business. 

The  little  man  sat  in  his  parlor,  noonday  sunshine  illumining 
the  room  with  a  benevolent  beauty.  The  bees  hummed  lazily 
outside,  the  cattle  afar  off  on  the  sunny  downs  basked  in  the 
summer  warmth,  the  crystal  springs  and  waterbrooks  shimmered 
and  sparkled  under  the  glorious  rays,  all  nature  was  happy, 
peaceful,  and  serene,  and  an  impertinent  fly  stood  on  a  wart 
on  the  little  man's  nose — undisturbed.  Ah,  reader  !  mark  you 
that,  for  this  man  of  prime  intelligence  heeded  not  the  brute 
creation,  nor  the  soulless  world  of  insects.  He  was  thinking. 
And  he  thought,  and  thought,  and  thought,  till  he  had  consumed 
a  gallon  of  October,  and  had  smoked  ten  pipes  of  the  best 
Trinidado. 

Then,  as  the  sun  was  waning  in  its  beauty,  as  the  busy  in- 
sects lessened  their  activity,  the  impertinent  fly  aforementioned 
received  a  rude  shock  as  the  man  of  brains  sprang  up  with  an 
exclamation,  and  clapped  his  hands  and  danced  about  the 
apartment.  "  Pete,  my  friend  !  "  he  said  in  self-communion, 
"  thou  art  a  great  man,  a  very  great  man  indeed,  sir.  I  see  that 
thousand,  ay,  and  I  feel  it  too.  Friendship  and  business  man, 
friendship  and  business,  they  keep  the  world  a-moving.  This 


342  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

affair  shall  set  a  seal  to  thy  triumphs.  Better  'tis  even  than 
those  London  affairs,  and  a  cool  thousand,  too.  Whew !  God 
bless  thy  soul  and  body  !  " 

Master  Whipple  had  had  reward  at  last.  He  had  an  idea. 
He  was  not  a  man  given  to  causeless  ecstasies.  He  knew  the 
meaning  of  business,  and  therefore  was  fully  aware  of  the 
virtues  of  a  thousand  guineas.  And  for  this  idea.  Keeping 
the  door  still  locked,  he  produced  a  clean  roll  of  parchment  out 
of  a  cupboard,  an  ink  horn,  sealing-wax,  a  quill,  and  a  knife. 
Again  he  divested  himself  of  his  jacket,  inserted  the  knife 
in  the  lining  thereof,  and  ripped  it  open.  There  fell  out 
a  strip  of  white  sheep-skin,  inscribed  on  which  were  these 
words — 

"  //  is  by  Our  order  and  express  desire  that  the  bearer  hath  done 
what  he  hath  done. 

"  Given  this  day  under  Our  Hand  and  Seal. 

"(Signea)  JAMES  REX." 

Peter  Whipple  smoothed  it  out  on  the  table,  then  chuckled. 
For  the  next  hour  no  sound  disturbed  the  stillness  save  the 
scratch,  scratch  of  the  quill.  The  words  on  the  clean  parch- 
ment were  written  in  a  bold,  methodical,  clerkly  hand,  yet  to- 
wards the  bottom  corner  of  the  document  two  words  of  five 
and  three  letters  respectively  were  totally  different  from  the 
others,  and  these  two  cost  the  writer  more  labor  and  screwing 
of  the  mouth  than  all  the  rest  together  ;  but  when  imprinted  he 
sighed  satisfaction  and  remarked,  "  Like  as  two  peas,  by 
Gad  ! " 

Then  followed  a  delicate  and  laborious  process,  in  which  a 
stick  of  red  sealing  wax  bore  a  prominent  part ;  however,  an 
hour's  steady  work  so.w  the  task  completed,  whereupon  more 
satisfaction  followed.  Peradventure  we  are  over  bold,  still  in 
pardonable  curiosity  we  glance  over  the  little  man's  shoulder 
and  behold  a  sheet  neatly  writ  as  follows  : — 

"  Order  to  admit  the  honorable  John  Peake  to  the  jail  of  Our 
loyal  town  of  Taunton,  that  he  do  superintend  and  carry  out  every 
arrangement  he  may  deem  fit  to  ensure  the  full  execution  of  Our  jus- 
tice upon  the  person  of  one,  Black  Ned,  a  notorioiis  malefactor, 
who  hath  sinned  and  plotted  deeply  against  Our  State  and  Person. 

"  Given  this  twentieth  day  of  September,  under  Our  Hand  and 
Seal 

"  (Signed}        JAMES  REX." 


SINGULAR  NARRATIVE  OF  PETER  WPIIPPLE.       343 

A  comparison  of  this  and  the  lesser  missive  revealed  the  fact 
that  His  Majesty's  seal  and  signature  appeared  duly  set  forth 
on  both,  yet  how  they  came  on  the  larger  one  we  neither  dare 
nor  desire  to  tell. 

Suffice  to  say  Master  Whipple  chuckled  again,  concealed 
these  missives  in  his  breeches  pocket,  unlocked  the  parlor 
door  at  last,  went  upstairs  to  his  bed-chamber,  and  donned  the 
finest  raiment  he  had.  He  carefully  curled  his  wig,  put  a 
dainty  pair  of  shoes  with  untarnished  silver  buckles  on  his  feet, 
an  elegant  rapier  against  his  thigh,  Mechlin  lace  ruffles  on  his 
legs,  and  donned  a  white  cambric  shirt,  a  coat  of  gorgeous 
satin,  and  breeches  of  purple  plush.  Mayhap  to  a  Londoner 
this  apparel  would  have  looked  out  of  date,  but  what  did  coun- 
try rustics  know  of  current  fashions?  Having  hunted  up  an 
equally  elegant  hat  and  cloak,  he  descended  to  the  parlor,  and 
took  the  two  documents  therefrom.  Decently  furnished  with 
gold,  he  set  out  in  the  twilight  for  Taunton  jail.  He  went 
forth  rapidly,  and  never  once  slackened  speed  till  the  frowning 
prison  gates  forbade  him  farther  progress.  An  authoritative 
rattle  on  those  portals  brought  a  man  from  the  porter's  lodge, 
who  admitted  Peter  into  the  prison. 

"  My  man,"  quoth  the  little  gentleman  in  a  tone  which  ad- 
mitted of  neither  delay  nor  parley,  "  conduct  me  at  once  to  the 
governor.  I  am  on  the  King's  service,  and  have  ridden  ex- 
press." 

"  Yes,  your  honor,"  and  the  fellow  bobbed  a  rustic  obei- 
sance. 

Thereupon  he  led  him  to  a  well-lighted  room  in  the  jail 
itself,  and  this  room  was  occupied  by  a  man,  middle-aged,  fat 
and  sleek,  whose  eyes  and  countenance  had  no  more  expression 
than  the  bottle  of  port  at  his  elbow. 

With  an  imperious  gesture  the  little  gentleman  dismissed  the 
man,  and  waiting  till  the  door  had  clicked  behind  him,  without 
a.  word,  Master  Pete  handed  the  governor  the  larger  of  the  two 
documents.  That  person  perused  it. 

"  The  King  !  "  gasps  he  in  an  awed  whisper. 

"  Yes,  and  now  read  this,"  says  Pete,  giving  him  the  second 
slip.  Yet  whilst  he  fumbled  for  it,  the  governor  deftly  but 
fearfully  slid  the  bottle  under  the  table. 

The  governor  read,  and  Peter  spoke,  not  in  his  usual  way, 
but  in  the  mincing  tone  of  the  London  gallant. 

"  D'ye  see  those,  my  friend  ?  They  mean  full  power.  I  rep- 
resent His  Majesty." 

Of  course  he  represented  the  King ;  of  course  they  meant 


3 44  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

full  power.  Had  not  he,  Joseph  Thompson,  seen  that  identi- 
cal seal  and  signature  on  the  death  warrant  which  had  arrived 
that  morning  ?  In  the  eyes  of  Joseph  Thompson,  the  man  he 
most  respected,  in  that  shire,  at  least,  was  the  gentleman  who 
stood  before  him.  Fancy  that  small  person  to  have  full  powers 
vested  in  him  by  the  King;  to  have  implicit  confidence  placed 
in  him  !  •  Did  not  his  credentials  declare  as  much  ? 

"  Now  hearkee,  governor,"  says  the  Londoner.  "  I  am  come 
a-gallop  from  Whitehall  on  a  matter  of  deepest  import,  and 
have  but  tarried  to  change  my  garments,  for,  ah,  Lard !  I  ne'er 
did  see  the  like  o'  these  roads  for  dust.  Now,  this  matter  con- 
cerns the  State,  as  ye  shall  learn.  Are  we  quite  alone  and  free 
from  intrusion  ?  Let  a  word  escape,  and  the  secret's  adver- 
tised." 

Having  locked  the  door,  the  governor  assured  him  such  was 
the  case.  Then  Master  Whipple  made  him  swear  an  oath  of 
awful  solemnity  not  to  divulge  a  single  hint  of  what  he  might 
tell  him.  The  governor  did  as  he  was  ordered,  and  the 
pseudo  king's  emissary,  in  a  whispered  tone,  made  the  follow- 
ing statement ;  long  ere  he  had  ended  the  narration  the  gov- 
ernor's heart  was  beating  his  ribs  in  stress  of  excitement. 

"  D'ye  list  to  me,  man.  'Tis  more  than  your  office,  or  your 
neck,  is  worth  should  ye  fail  me  in  this  matter.  Bend  your  ear 
the  closer.  There  is  a  daring  and  far-reaching  conspiracy  on 
foot  to  set  this  rogue  at  liberty.  To  the  world  at  large  he  is 
known  as  a  highwayman  only.  Mayhap  it  may  surprise  you  to 
learn  he  is  the  vilest  and  most  desperate  political  plotter  of  this 
century.  That  is  the  reason  he  hath  been  left  in  the  country  to 
be  hanged,  that  less  publicity  may  be  drawn  to  him.  He  is 
really  a  man  of  the  noblest  birth,  but  is  so  mixed  up  in  skilful 
and  wicked  plots  to  dethrone  His  Gracious  Majesty,  that  so 
long  as  this  arch  villain  is  alive,  the  King  cannot  sit  securely  on 
his  throne.  But,  by  the  mercy  of  God,  these  traitors  are  de- 
livered into  His  Majesty's  hands — he  hath  got  wind  of  the  plot. 
The  conspirators'  daring  plan  is  as  follows  :  The  attempt  is  to 
be  made  an  hour  before  the  execution,  which,  I  hear,  is  fixed 
for  daybreak  on  the  loth.  At  that  time  the  plotters,  eight  in 
number,  are  to  climb  along  the  roofs  of  the  houses  in  Blue  Boar 
Alley,  which,  you  are  aware,  adjoins  the  north  end  of  the  prison 
yard.  They  are  to  drop  from  thence  on  to  the  top  of  the  wall, 
and  so  gain  admittance  to  the  jail.  Then,  fully  armed,  they  are 
to  make  a  rush,  overpower  your  unarmed  assistants,  and  liberate 
the  criminal.  Desperate  scheme,  is  it  not  ?  But  here  is  our 
side  to  the  question.  We  will  catch  them  in  the  act ;  they  shall 


THE  ARRIVAL  OF  WILLIAM  OF  ORANGE.  345 

be  condemned  by  their  own  deeds.  Every  one  of  your  jailers, 
including  the  executioner,  must  be  armed  to  the  teeth  and  lie 
in  readiness  under  the  shadow  of  the  wall,  and  await  their 
arrival,  so  that  as  they  drop  over  they  can  be  easily  seized  and 
bound.  Now,  again,  I  must  impress  upon  you  that  on  no  ac- 
count are  you  to  breathe  one  word  of  this ;  the  slightest  indis- 
cretion may  set  the  conspirators  on  their  guard.  But,  when  the 
hour  arrives,  you  are  to  give  your  men  the  necessary  instruc- 
tions, and  you  and  I  (the  only  officials  left  in  the  jail)  will,  to 
avoid  the  least  miscarriage,  attend  the  prisoner  in  his  cell." 

The  governor,  being  a  simple-minded  man  and  a  faithful 
servant,  most  implicitly  carried  out  Master  Whipple's  behests, 
so  that  when  the  time  arrived  Fortune  declared  herself  to  be 
entirely  on  the  side  of  intellect.  No  hitch  occurred  ;  and  whilst 
the  dupes  were  watching  one  side  of  the  jail  wall,  like  dogs  over 
a  rat-hole,  the  thick-witted  governor  was  drugged  by  the  false 
John  Peake,  and  that  notorious  malefactor  Black  Ned  was  re- 
leased, by  means  of  the  wicket-door  in  the  southern  side  of  the 
prison  yard,  forty-three  minutes  prior  to  his  intended  execution. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

THE   ARRIVAL    OF   WILLIAM    OF   ORANGE. 

Now,  when  this  tale  of  one  man's  nimble  wits  was  ended, 
John  rose  solemnly  and  shook  his  hand  with  fervor ;  and  after- 
wards mine  host  of  the  King's  Head  was  exalted  to  one  degree 
above  a  hero  ;  and  if  ever  man  deserved  mouth  praise,  ay,  and 
purse  praise  too,  assuredly  that  man  was  Peter  Whipple.  The 
story  made  a  profound  impression  upon  all  who  heard  it,  and  to 
this  day  I  can  ne'er  think  of  it  without  marvelling  at  the  stroke 
of  genius  that  gave  me  life,  and  himself  a  thousand  guineas.  I 
may  remark,  in  passing,  that  since  then  I  have  been  able  to 
add  another  thousand  to  his  honorarium  ;  and  also  that  I  ne'er 
set  eyes  upon  M.  de  Crois  again  ;  but  he  married  into  a  noble 
Breton  family  within  a  year  after  these  events,  and  subsequently 
gained  soldierly  renown  under  the  French  King  Louis. 

Pete  took  his  honors  meekly,  as  is  seemly  in  true  heroes,  and 
fell  a  discussing  with  John  and  me  the  chances  of  the  approach- 
ing struggle  between  the  Dutchman  and  the  Stuart. 

In  the  mean  time  much  rivalry  was  going  on  between  the  girls 
in  the  mixing  of  a  cup  of  schnapps  for  friend  Whipple's  especial 


346  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

benefit.  Now,  Betty,  getting  the  spirit  first,  clearly  held  the 
upper  hand  in  this  competition  ;  and  Dorothy,  though  trying  all 
her  coaxing  powers,  and  afterwards  her  trickery,  to  obtain  pos- 
session, eventually  failed  to  do  so,  and  was  obliged  to  execute 
the  menial  offices  of  adding  the  sugar  and  hot  water,  whilst 
Betty  stirred  the  mixture,  and  set  it  by  the  recipient's  elbow, 
and  quite  naturally  counted  on  the  praise.  Albeit  when  Master 
Whipple  took  a  sip  at  it,  rolled  it  round  his  mouth  to  test  its 
quality,  and  said — 

"  Blister  me !  this  is  the  finest  and  most  potent  liquor  ever 
made  by  the  hand  of  woman.  Never  before  hath  my  palate 
been  suited  to  such  a  nicety." 

At  this,  quick  as  lightning,  ere  the  less  nimble-tongued  Betty 
could  make  a  suitable  reply,  Dorothy  courtesied  her  acknowl- 
edgments, and  answered,  methought  somewhat  saucily — 

"  'Tis  a  rule  of  mine,  sir,  on  the  rare  occasions  I  have  the 
honor  to  provide  liquor  for  gentlemen  of  stupendous  intellect, 
to  mix  it  exactly  twice  as  strong  as  I  do  for  men  who  have  no 
more  than  their  share  of  brains  to  boast  of." 

Whereat  Master  Whipple  smiled  at  her,  and  pledged  her  three 
times  in  the  bowl ;  whilst  Betty  bit  her  lip  and  looked  mighty 
vexed  at  the  enterprising  and  triumphant  Dorothy. 

"  Lucky  dog  !  "  called  out  Pete  again  across  to  me,  so  that 
all  could  hear  him. 

Now  everybody  showed  signs  of  fully  understanding  his  mean- 
ing except  my  very  innocent  mistress,  who,  having  coolly  re- 
garded each  smiling  countenance,  had  the  impudence  to  seek  an 
interpretation  of  this  remark  from  him  who  had  uttered  it.  And 
so  deft  was  she  in  the  employment  of  that  nimble  tongue  of  hers, 
that  Pete,  despite  his  London  cleverness,  was  promptly  cor- 
nered, and  had  to  use  plain  English  to  extricate  himself,  to  the 
amusement  of  us  all. 

The  hour  was  late  ere  this  congenial  gathering  was  dissolved 
by  the  departure  of  Master  Whipple.  He  left  a  wondrous  repu- 
tation behind  him.  Betty  declared  that  his  high,  expansive  fore- 
head certainly  betokened  greatness ;  whilst  mother  said  the 
shape  of  his  head  and  the  cast  of  his  countenance  showed  it 
quite  as  clearly.  And  so  deficient  is  every  woman  in  logical 
conclusions  that  Dorothy,  of  course,  was  entirely  of  their  way  of 
thinking.  But  methinks  hard-headed  John  somewhat  put  them 
out  of  countenance  when  he  growled,  with  irritating  sobriety — 

"  Humph  !  anybody  can  see  Whipple's  a  very  great  man, 
what  with  the  pomatum  on  his  hair  and  the  buckles  on  his 
shoon." 


THE  ARRIVAL  OF  WILLIAM  OF  ORANGE.  347 

Whence  Dorothy,  who  felt  she  had  been  bested,  crept  laugh- 
ingly behind  him,  and  cuffed  his  ear,  exclaiming — 

"  Thou  solid  nuisance  !  " 

Upon  retiring  to  bed  that  night,  and  on  reviewing  the  events 
of  the  evening  over  in  my  mind,  there  was  one  matter  that  called 
for  some  consideration.  'Twas  the  way  that  my  love  had  man- 
aged in  three  short  hours  to  captivate  Peter  Whipple  so  com- 
pletely. His  looks  and  bearing  testified  to  that.  Perhaps  it 
is  greatly  to  my  discredit  that  I  hesitated  midway  betwixt  amuse- 
ment and  annoyance  at  her  conduct.  Yet  the  next  moment  I 
reviled  myself  for  my  unworthiness,  and  went  to  sleep. 

However,  it  caused  me  to  watch  her  behavior  the  closer. 
And  the  very  next  day  I  caught  her  practising  her  arts  upon 
brother  John.  Very  subtle  ones  they  were,  yet  in  three  days  she 
managed  to  command  obedience  from  him  by  the  mere  raising  of 
her  finger.  I  did  not  know  whether  to  take  offence,  or  to  laugh  at 
her  newest  mischief,  since  the  rogue  displayed  her  command  of 
the  stolid  lad  with  the  very  air  of  the  s,howman  as  he  exhibits 
the  tricks  of  his  performing  elephant.  She  made  the  solemn, 
heavy  fellow  unbend,  and  took  great  pride  in  so  doing.  If 
she  required  him  to  talk,  he  did  so,  even  in  his  most  silent 
moments  ;  whilst  in  his  serious  moods  he  was  made  to  laugh, 
and  often  was  compelled  to  do  her  small  services  even  to  the 
detriment  of  business.  And  when  he  was  in  her  presence  when 
the  day's  work  was  done,  I  ne'er  failed  to  notice  how  his  eyes 
followed  her  willow  form  about,  and  how  his  face  lighted  up 
when  she  chanced  to  look  at  him,  which  she  did  now  and  then 
in  a  fashion  so  entirely  captivating  that  methought  these  looks 
should  have  been  reserved  by  rights  for  me.  Perhaps  this  doth 
but  show  the  pettiness  of  my  nature  ;  but  I  certainly  glowered 
at  him  very  often  with  the  sense  of  an  inward  grievance,  though 
I  was  at  pains  to  do  so  when  neither  of  them  were  looking. 

Soon  England  was  agog  with  expectation.  Dutch  William's 
name  was  whispered  everywhere,  and  his  arrival  was  looked  for 
at  any  moment.  'Twas  thought  his  fleet  would  sail  to  York- 
shire, and  there  disembark  the  grand  army  it  conveyed.  Yet 
its  appearance  was  much  retarded  by  the  fierce  gales  that  blew 
from  the  westward.  In  the  mean  time  the  King's  men  made  no 
sign,  thus  I  was  able  to  bide  at  Chilverley  Farm  in  bodily  comfort. 
Howbeit  numberless  emotions  were  alive  in  my  heart.  My 
shattered  health  and  broken  spirit  gave  me  grave  disquietude, 
and  I  was  beset  with  fears  as  to  whether  in  my  enfeebled  state 
I  could  bear  the  strain  of  a  winter  campaign.  Still,  come  what 
might,  I  was  fully  determined  to  play  my  part  in  the  forthcom- 


348  MJSTRESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

ing  struggle.  Never  for  an  instant  did  I  forget  my  father's 
murder.  I  had  sworn  to  pursue  with  vengeance  Judge  Jeffreys 
and  the  King,  and  so  long  as  body  and  soul  kept  together  that 
oath  held  good.  Again,  I  had  an  inheritance  to  go  in  quest  of, 
not  for  myself  alone,  but  for  the  one  I  loved  as  well.  No,  there 
could  be  no  drawing  back,  and  much  as  i  might  doubt  my 
powers  of  endurance,  I  had  all  to  gain,  and  nought  but  a  half- 
spent  life  to  lose. 

Tobe  Hancock  and  I  conversed  much  together  on  the  subject 
that  filled  the  minds  of  all  men.  The  blacksmith,  zealous  as 
ever,  was  prepared  to  fight  at  a  moment's  notice.  He  furbished 
his  weapons  and  oiled  his  matchlock,  and  waited  eager  and 
couchant  for  the  Dutchman's  coming.  And  come  when  he  might 
Tobias  would  strike  his  hardest  for  the  Protestant  religion  and 
the  confusion  of  papists.  As  for  me,  I  was  quite  ready,  save  in  one 
particular.  I  lacked  a  horse,  and  had  no  money  of  mine  own  to 
buy  one.  Neither  dared  I  asked  mother  for  one,  because  she 
was  quite  set  against  all  fighting.  Indeed,  I  altogether  avoided 
the  subject  as  far  as  she  was  concerned,  and  knew  quite  well,  ere 
I  could  set 'forth  on  my  momentous  errand,  I  should  have  the 
whole  weight  of  her  opposition  to  face.  And  this  constant  thought 
of  horses  only  added  to  my  pain  of  mind,  for  I  could  not  think 
of  them  without  the  death  of  faithful  Joe  being  forever  present 
in  my  memory.  Indeed  to  this  hour  I  ne'er  think  of  that  brave 
creature  being  killed  in  my  madness  and  brutality,  but  what  I 
feel  a  sense  of  ignominy  and  shame. 

While  these  events  were  pending,  a  far  more  trivial  matter 
came  to  a  sudden  head.  Seeing  that  I  had  nought  to  occupy 
me,  and  that  I  was  endeavoring  to  nurse  my  shattered  health 
as  much  as  possible,  'twas  my  custom  to  lie  abed  longer  than 
the  other  members  of  the  family  of  a  morning.  It  so  happened 
on  one  occasion  upon  coming  down  to  breakfast,  that  I  found  my 
mistress  had  had  hers,  and  had  set  off,  contrary  to  her  wont, 
upon  some  excursion  among  the  hills,  without  waiting  for  my 
company. 

I  felt  somewhat  aggrieved  at  this,  and  took  it  rather  hard. 
And  what  made  it  all  the  harder  was  that  she  did  not  return 
for  several  hours,  and  even  then  volunteered  me  no  explanation 
of  her  unkind  conduct.  However,  on  the  first  occasion  we 
were  alone  together  afterwards,  I  asked — 

"  Whither  have  you  been  all  the  morning,  Dorothy  ? " 

"To  Taunton  with  your  brother  Jack,"  she  answered. 

"  Oh  !  "  said  I  shortly,  shutting  my  teeth  with  a  snap. 

"  Oh  ! "  she  mimicked  after  me,  with   an  exact  copy  of  my 


THE  ARRIVAL  OF  WILLIAM  OF  ORANGE.  349 

tone  and  manner.  And  being  quick  to  notice  the  exceeding 
gravity  of  my  face,  added  with  all  her  native  impudence,  "  I'm 
not  your  property  yet,  young  man,  so  don't  you  think  it  !  " 

"  But,  dearest,  I  wish  you  wouldn't  lead  John  on  like  you 
are  doing." 

She  looked  at  me  with  such  a  depth  of  cool  satire  that  I 
began  to  feel  uncomfortable,  whilst  her  eyes  seemed  to  dance 
with  laughter. 

"  Oh,  oh  !  I  have  found  one  flaw  in  a  great  man's  character. 
Master  Edward  Armstrong,  England's  greatest  swordsman,  is 
jealous-minded.  And  now,  your  worship,  read  me  a  lesson,  an'  it 
please  you.  But  really,  sir,  I  cannot  help  the  lustre  of  mine 
eyes.  And  you  silly  men  are  all  alike.  Even  that  fine  com- 
mander, Lord  Churchill,  was  smitten  by  them." 

Pertly  enough  she  said  this,  but  then  relapsed  into  a  tone  of 
penitential  softness,  and  'twas  accompanied  by  any  number  of 
melting  glances.  Certes,  she  was  exercising  her  powers  on  me, 
and  in  despite  of  all  my  efforts  she  more  than  half  succeeded. 
Who  could  resist  those  looks,  those  smiles,  that  air  of  humility, 
and  the  half-veiled  irony  underneath  it  ? 

"'Tis  not  your  airs  and. graces  that  I' complain  of,  darling," 
quoth  I,  much  mollified,  "  but  methinks  'tis  hard  to  prefer  an- 
other's company  to  mine,  and  to  leave  me  all  the  morning." 

"  Bo,  thou  goose  !  "  was  her  only  reply,  and  there  and  then 
she  ran  away. 

I  could  not  quite  grasp  her  meaning  then,  but  somehow  felt 
that  she  had  gotten  the  best  of  it,  and  that  I  was  something  very 
like  a  fool.  Still,  one  thing  pleased  me  mightily.  'Twas  plain 
my  remonstrance  had  appealed  to  her  sense  of  right  and  justice. 
For  that  same  night  she  charged  my  pipe  for  me,  brewed  me  a 
bowl  of  punch,  sat  beside  me,  and  talked  earnestly  of  the 
coming  conflict. 

As  I  remember  'twas  a  cold  wet  November  night,  and  half  a 
gale  of  wind  was  blowing  from  the  sea.  It  flicked  the  rain 
against  the  windows,  went  crooning  down  the  valleys,  and 
whining  through  the  woods.  It  sobbed  and  wailed  amid  the 
naked  branches,  and  the  melancholy  sound  of  it  made  me  draw 
my  knees  nearer  to  the  hearth,  and  set  me  gazing  wistfully  into 
the  bright  embers  of  the  fire.  I  was  in  this  posture  when  sud- 
denly a  dripping  face  was  thrust  through  the  outer  door. 
'Twas  Tobe  Hancock.  His  big  gray  eyes  were  filled  with  a 
weird  vivacity. 

"  'E  hath  coom,  lad  !  " 

I  jumped  out  of  my  chair  excitedly. 
23 


350  Ml 'STRESS  D  OR  0  TH  Y  MA  R  VIN. 

"Where  did  he  land,  Tobe?" 

'"E  hath  tricked  the  King's  fleet,  and  hath  put  into  Torbay." 

Thus,  after  all,  the  Prince  had  come  to  our  parts,  for,  as  ye 
are  aware,  kinsmen,  Torbay  is  a  little  haven  on  the  coast  of 
Devon.  Tobe  was  overflowing  with  the  news,  whilst  I,  brim- 
ming with  questions,  unceasingly  plied  them  one  by  one,  till  he 
•was  pumped  quite  dry  of  information.  He  enthusiastically 
descanted  on  the  army  that  had  come  to  restore  England's 
freedom  and  religion.  It  had  required  a  fleet  of  sixty  sail  to  bring 
it  from  Holland,  and  an  equal  number  of  boats  to  land  it. 
Mounted  messengers  were  riding  post  haste  to  London  with  the 
news,  and  the  Prince  was  expected  at  Exeter  in  a  day  or  two. 
It  was  also  averred  that  the  famous  Frederic  Count  von 
Schomberg  had  accompanied  the  Prince  as  his  first  lieutenant. 
At  that  great  name  Dorothy  interposed  in  her  swift,  enthusias- 
tic way— 

"  Didst  say  Count  von  Schomberg,  Master  Hancock  ?  Fine 
man  that !  He  hath  more  knowledge  of  the  art  of  war,  and 
hath  greater  military  talent  than  any  three  men  of  his  time. 
'Twas  he  who  gained  the  glorious  field  of  Monies  Claros,  whilst 
his  blood  hath  been  spilled  over  all  the  map  of  Europe.  Dutch 
Will  hath  done  right  well  to  secure  his  services,  though  to  be 
sure  his  years  are  beginning  to  sit  heavy  upon  him.  But  no 
matter,  he's  a  splendid  man,  and  there's  life  in  the  old  dog 
yet !  " 

Thus  spake  my  mistress,  and  'twas  as  good  as  one  of  Sir 
John  Suckling's  comedies,  to  see  Tobias  look  at  her  as  though 
not  rightly  sure  whether  it  behoved  him  to  believe  a  girl  in  such 
an  unfeminine  matter  ;  whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  the  excited 
maid  was  regaling  John  and  me  with  anecdote  upon  anecdote 
of  the  great  soldier. 

'Twas  now  a  time  for  prompt  action,  and  both  the  black- 
smith and  I  recognizing  this  fact,  struck  a  bargain  there  and 
then.  I  promised  to  be  at  his  forge  at  daybreak  in  the  morn- 
ing ;  we  would  start  for  the  wars  together. 

No  sooner  had  Master  Hancock  left  us,  than  I  gazed  at  dear 
mother  and  beheld  her  face  alive  with  keenest  trouble. 

"  Ned,  my  boy,  mine  own  son,  you  must  not  go  to  war,"  she 
whispered  brokenly. 

I  had  foreseen  this  cruel  moment.  Therefore  I  braced  myself 
up  to  keep  my  self-control,  yet  felt  at  the  same  time  my  deter- 
mination was  far  too  inflexible  for  a  human  agency  to  turn  it 
from  its  purpose.  Kinsmen,  do  not  think  me  ungrateful,  do 
not  think  me  cold-hearted  !  You  are  to  understand  the  hour 


THE  ARRIVAL  OF  WILLIAM  OF  ORANGE.  351 

had  come  for  which  I  had  been  waiting,  longing,  and  building 
hopes  upon  for  months. 

"  Mother,"  said  I,  "  the  day  father  was  murdered  I  swore  an 
oath  to  punish  his  murderers.  They  are  Judge  Jeffreys  and  the 
King.  The  time  hath  come  at  last,  and  so  long  as  my  arm  has 
the  strength  to  grasp  a  sword,  I  will  fight  for  that  object." 

"  I  am  grieved  to  hear  you  talk  thus,  Ned.  Do  bide  at  home, 
if  for  no  other  sake  than  mine  !" 

"  Dear  mother,"  I  replied  with  some  uncertainty ;  for  her 
pleading  tones  had  touched  me,  "do  not  think  I  pain  you 
wantonly,  but  my  mind  is  made.  I  have  suffered  too  long  and 
too  bitterly.  Besides,  I  have  all  to  gain  and  nought  to  lose.'' 

"  But  think  of  what  happened  when  Monmouth  came,"  she 
said,  not  reproachfully,  but  fearfully,  and  terror  sprang  into  her 
mild  eyes. 

"  I  shall  ne'er  return  hither,  mother,  if  our  cause  be  defeated," 
I  answered  ;  "  never  again  will  I  jeopardize  the  peace  and  safety 
of  this  homestead." 

"  My  boy,  you  wrong  me  there.  'Tis  not  the  safety  of  this 
roof,  but  your  own  for  which  I  tremble.  You  are  my  firstborn, 
and  hold  the  first  place  in  my  heart." 

These  simple  words  came  near  my  undoing.  'Twas  hard  to 
think  that  I,  who  had  caused  her  such  pain  in  the  past,  could 
not  spare  her  more  when  I  had  it  in  my  power  to  do  so.  Never- 
theless I  found  the  courage  to  answer — 

"  Forgive  me,  mother  ;  but  please  God  I  will  go  forth  and  do 
my  best.  More  than  that  no  man  can  do.  I  am  like  a  ruined 
gamester,  who  stakes  everything  on  a  final  cast.  It  hath  been 
torture  to  me  to  sit  moping  in  the  chimney  corner  these  last 
few  days,  unable  to  earn  my  bread,  but  solely  dependent  upon 
the  generosity  of  others.  Yes,  go  I  must  and  will !  " 

She  burst  out  crying  then,  and  it  was  pitiable  to  hear  her 
sobs,  and  to  take  home  to  one's  self  their  reproachful  meaning. 
Yet  I  bore  them  all  in  silence.  Perhaps  I  was  an  ingrate,  a 
cold-hearted  ingrate,  but  arbitrary  Fate  seemed  to  draw  me 
with  its  iron  fingers  towards  the  great  struggle  that  held  life 
and  death  in  the  balance  ! 


352  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

THE    START    FOR   THE   WARS. 

IN  the  midst  of  mother's  distress  I  looked  about  me,  and  saw 
Dorothy  gazing  intently  into  the  fire,  whilst  John's  face  ap- 
peared awful  in  its  grimness. 

At  that  moment  poor  mother  chanced  to  look  at  my  darling, 
and  the  girl  seemed  to  inspire  her. 

"  Ned,"  she  said,  "  how  can  you  go  forth  and  leave  the  maid 
you  love  ?  Do  you  wish  to  break  her  heart  as  well  as  mine  ? " 

That  was  very  like  a  woman.  She  had  discovered  the  ten- 
derest  emotion  in  my  soul,  and  now  her  desperation  led  her  to 
play  upon  it.  I  could  make  no  answer  to  that,  simply  because 
I  knew  not  how  to  frame  one.  A  young  man's  love  is  not  a 
thing  to  be  tampered  with,  neither  can  it  be  discussed  before 
an  audience.  I  knew  my  position  was  an  irksome  and  a  peril- 
ous one,  and  mother  knew  it  too.  Therefore  she  pressed  her 
advantage  to  the  utmost. 

"  Ned,  I  do  not  see  how  any  man,  who  really  loves  a  maid, 
can  go  away  for  months,  or  perhaps  years,  or  perhaps  forever, 
to  risk  his  life  day  by  day,  when  he  might  just  as  easily  bide 
at  home.  'Tis  not  as  though  you  are  obliged  to  go.  'Tis  but 
a  mistaken  sentiment  that  calls  you.  Oh,  my  boy,  overcome 
your  vain  desires,  and  think  of  those  you  leave  behind  !  " 

This  was  a  wondrous  long  speech  for  mother,  and  she  de- 
livered it  with  a  power  of  pleading  that  would  have  touched  a 
heart  of  stone.  And  my  heart  being  tenderer  than  that,  it 
appealed  to  it  straightway.  I  felt  that  the  tide  was  turning 
against  me,  and  that  my  courage  was  ebbing  slowly.  But  at 
the  precise  moment  I  was  in  the  greatest  need  of  help,  Dorothy 
took  her  eyes  from  the  fire  and  looked  at  mother  timidly. 

"  Dear  mother,"  she  said,  as  if  three  parts  afraid,  but  with  a 
voice  full  and  deep  in  its  resolution,  "please  remember,  that  I 
am  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin's  daughter."  Her  warm  fingers 
touched  my  hand,  and  their  mute  assistance  buoyed  my  spirit 
somewhat. 

"  Then,  thou  hast  no  fear  for  him  ?  "  asked  mother  very 
reproachfully. 

"  A  soldier's  child  should  know  no  fear,  dearest  mother.  And 
methinks  when  a  brave  man  goes  forth  to  spend  his  blood,  and 
his  life,  if  need  be,  in  a  noble  cause,  and  in  his  mistress's  cause 


THE  START  FOR  THE  WARS. 


353 


as  well,  the  very  least  we  useless  women,  who  are  only  fit  to 
weep  in  war  time,  can  do,  is  to  preserve  a  bright  eye  and  a 
cheerful  countenance  to  keep  his  spirits  up,  and  to  save  our 
weak  tears  and  qualms  till  after  his  departure."  She  said  this 
with  face  aglow  with  enthusiasm,  yet  mother  was  woefully 
disappointed,  and  having  read  her  mind  incorrectly,  began  to 
grow  angry. 

"  Come,  Dorothy,"  she  replied  severely,  "  I  call  that  Cheap 
Jack  talk,  and  not  suited  to  grave  occasions.  It  sounds  very 
well  in  poems  and  in  the  playhouse,  but  I  cannot  think  it  befits 
a  woman  of  flesh  and  blood,  who  hath  a  warm  heart  within  her. 
Suppose  your  Ned  was  to  be  killed  in  this  campaign,  and  that 
you  were  ne'er  to  see  him  more  ? '' 

"  If  God  strikes  him  down,"  she  answered,  "  He  will  give  me 
the  strength  to  bear  the  blow.  Besides,  no  nobler  death  could 
be  desired  for  any  man,  than  that  he  should  die  sword  in  hand, 
fighting  for  himself,  his  country,  and  his  darling.  But  why 
should  we  women,  who  do  nought  but  stay  at  home  and  sigh, 
presume  to  raise  our  voices  at  great  times  like  these  ?  And 
perhaps,  dear  mother,  you  may  set  it  down  as  mere  boastfulness 
in  me,  but  were  I  a  man  I  would  be  under  the  Dutchman's 
Standard  before  another  sunset." 

The  way  that  maid  stood  up  before  us  all,  with  a  noble  in- 
tensity about  her  face,  and  a  splendid  light  in  her  eyes,  was  a 
thing  to  be  remembered.  To  hear  the  wild  ardor  of  her  voice 
was  to  know  she  was  quite  carried  away  by  the  words  she 
spoke,  and  by  the  leaven  which  reposed  within  her  of  the  dead 
knight  of  Kelston  Manor,  the  man  of  war  who  had  fought  and 
bled,  and  had  died  sword  in  hand  at  last. 

But  mother  at  this  was  downright  angry. 

"  You  cruel,  unfeeling  girl  !  "  she  said  ;  "  'tis  quite  plain  you 
do  not  care  a  jot  for  my  poor  lad,  but  have  merely  jested  with 
him.  No  woman  who  really  loves  a  man  would  be  so  willing 
for  him  to  lose  his  life  for  the  sake  of  such  romantic  balderdash 
and  chicanery  !  Or,  perhaps,  you  think  men  were  only  made 
for  fighting  ? " 

Those  last  words  conveyed  a  sarcasm.  Never  before  had  I 
seen  dear  mother  so  thoroughly  aroused.  I  could  not  have 
believed  it  possible  that  her  placid  nature  could  have  let  her  be 
so  cruel  with  her  tongue.  Yet  even  as  she  spoke  she  burst  into 
a  storm  of  passionate  sobbing.  Instantly  my  mistress  replied, 
and  in  a  way  that  was  quite  as  hard  and  bitter. 

"  I  am  not  certain  as  to  what  men  were  made  for,"  she 
retorted  fiercely ;  "  but,  methinks,  women  were  only  made  for 


354  MISTXESS  DOKOTIIY  MARVIN. 

weeping!  "  There  and  then  she  sailed  out  of  the  kitchen,  and 
away  upstairs  to  her  bedroom,  from  which  she  did  not  return 
that  night. 

Poor  mother  was  utterly  crushed  at  this,  and  rocked  herself 
to  and  fro,  still  crying  ceaselessly  in  her  desolation.  And 
Betty,  seeing  her  so  continuously  tearful,  came  to  her  side  to 
try  and  comfort  her,  and  presently  they  clung  to  one  another 
and  wept  together.  As  for  me,  a  weight  of  sorrow  lay  on  my 
heart.  Here  had  I,  a  fallen,  sinful,  worthless  fellow,  gone  and 
set  angry  passions  in  pure  and  loving  hearts.  This  sad  state 
of  things  oppressed  me  sore,  and  gave  me  many  longings  for 
daybreak  in  the  morning.  In  the  midst  of  my  misery,  John 
touched  me  on  the  shoulder. 

"  We'll  get  out  o'  this,"  he  growled,  and  therewith  we  donned 
our  hats  and  cloaks  and  set  out  for  a  walk  in  the  darkness  and 
the  rain. 

'Twas  the  first  time  for  years  I  had  received  any  such  advance 
from  him.  Indeed,  never  since  father's  death  had  he  sought 
my  company,  and,  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  I  marvelled  at 
his  condescension  now,  and  felt  very  ill  at  ease  in  his  society. 

For  an  hour  we  walked  side  by  side,  whilst  not  a  word  passed 
between  us.  On  my  own  part  I  was  too  abashed  to  speak  ; 
whilst  he  did  not  utter  a  solitary  syllable.  But  at  last,  as  we 
came  back  again  towards  the  farmstead,  he  halted  near  the 
stable-door,  and  told  me  to  wait  a  moment  outside,  whilst  he 
went  within.  I  heard  him  grope  about  inside  for  a  minute  or 
two,  and  also  heard  a  peculiar  noise,  as  though  one  of  the  stones 
of  the  floor  had  been  displaced.  Directly  afterwards  he  rejoined 
me,  and  I  could  dimly  discern  through  the  gloom  that  he  held 
a  large  cloth  bag  in  his  left  hand. 

"  Take  hold,"  said  he  shortly,  and  gave  it  into  my  custody. 

'Twas  very  heavy,  and  upon  shaking  it  something  clinked 
within,  and  the  tinkling  noise  that  came  therefrom  had,  accord- 
ing to  some  men,  no  sound  in  the  world  to  match  it. 

"  Gold  !  " 

"  Ay,  gold,"  said  he.  "  One  hundred  and  forty-nine  pounds, 
fifteen  shillings  and  fourpence  farthing." 

"  I — I  don't  understand,  John,"  said  I,  completely  taken 
aback. 

"  Ever  since  the  week  following  father's  murder,"  he  replied, 
"I  have  ne'er  failed  to  put  one-third  of  my  earning  by  for  a  day 
that  I  knew  would  come.  It  hath  now  arrived.  It  hath  been 
a  cherished  wish  of  mine  to  use  this  money  myself  in  the 
Great  Cause,  and  that  mine  own  thews  and  sinews,  the  fruit  of 


THE  START  FOR  THE  WARS.  355 

my  father's  loins,  should  strike  a  lusty  blow,  that  his  death  be 
not  unpunished.  However,  methinks,  'twould  kill  our  mother 
for  the  two  of  us  to  go  ;  so  I  will  bide  at  home.  You  are  the 
eldest,  your  father's  firstborn.  'Tis  more  meet  and  seemly  that 
you  should  go.  And,  Edward,  I  can  trust  you  to  employ  this 
sum  zealously  in  our  own  and  the  Prince's  service." 

Thereupon  he  gave  my  hand  a  mighty  squeeze,  and  led  the 
way  indoors. 

Straightway  I  betook  myself  to  bed.  'Twas  the  same  room  I 
had  bided  in  one  night  three  years  agone,  when  a  similar  errand 
lay  before  me.  Everything  was  the  same  therein.  Yet  three 
years  gone  I  had  lain  down  with  bright  hopes,  bright  ambitions, 
and  a  young,  unbroken,  high,  and  buoyant  spirit.  What  was  I 
now  ?  Merely  a  wreck  of  a  man,  with  a  black  history  branded 
in  my  soul,  with  my  youthful  vigor  sapped,  with  my  spirit 
broken,  with  three  years  of  shame  and  ignominy  written  in  my 
book  of  life,  which  nought  could  purge  away. 

A  whole  lifetime  seemed  to  keep  that  bright  day  of  '85  and 
this  dark  one  of  '88  apart.  Yet  now,  as  then,  I  could  not  rest. 
Hours  that  should  have  been  utilized  with  slumber  were  passed 
in  fitful  dozing.  Perhaps  the  thing  that  gave  me  the  greatest 
pain  of  mind  was  the  knowledge  I  was  leaving  those  so  dear  to 
my  heart,  and  that  maybe  I  should  ne'er  set  eyes  on  them  in 
the  flesh  again.  Also  there  came  the  hard  fact  that  I  had  set 
my  two  noblest  friends  at  strife  with  one  another  on  my  account ; 
and  what  made  it  all  the  harder,  was  because  I  could  not 
discover  the  way  to  an  amendment.  'Twas  plain  to  me  neither 
understood  the  other.  Each  of  them  loved  my  unworthy  self 
jealously,  and  in  a  fashion  entirely  opposite.  But  they  were 
blind  to  one  fact.  They  could  not  see  that,  though  their 
methods  and  sentiments  of  love  were  so  very  different,  they  all 
amounted  to  the  same  thing  in  the  end.  Indeed,  this  was  a 
galling  grief  to  me  on  the  eve  of  my  leave-taking ;  I  could  not 
bear  to  think  1  must  bid  them  both  good-bye,  and  to  know  that 
I  had  torn  their  two  hearts  apart ;  for  they  had  learned  to  love 
one  another  dearly. 

I  rose  and  dressed  myself  very  early,  so  that  by  daylight  I 
might  be  prepared  to  keep  my  tryst  with  Tobe.  Judge  of  my 
surprise,  upon  going  down  into  the  kitchen,  to  find  it  alight  with 
candles  and  a  cheerful  fire,  and  to  find  all  the  household  stir- 
ring. By  that  I  knew  that  others  beside  myself  had  been  think- 
ing, to  some  purpose,  of  my  departure.  Mother  and  Betty  were 
particularly  busy  among  the  victuals.  Bacon  was  frizzling 
before  the  fire,  and  every  now  and  then  spitting  into  it,  the 


356  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR  VIN. 

kettle  was  singing  on  the  hob,  and  a  strong  odor  of  mulled  ale 
pervaded  the  fireplace.  Dorothy  had  the  sleeves  of  her  morn- 
ing dress  rolled  up  above  the  elbow,  and  was  furbishing  with  all 
her  energy  some  huge  article  in  her  lap.  At  first  I  could  not 
rightly  see  what  it  was  ;  but  upon  approaching  nearer,  inspection 
told  me  it  was  a  beautiful  steel  breastplate,  that  was  polished 
as  bright  as  any  mirror.  My  love  looked  at  me  with  a  face 
flushed  by  reason  of  its  owner's  violent  exertions. 

"  Off  with  your  doublet,  lad,"  she  said,  in  a  cheery,  decisive  way. 

Without  parley  I  obeyed  her.  Thereupon  she  deftly  tried 
the  breastplate  on,  and  exclaimed — 

"  Beautiful !  It  fits  you  to  a  nicety.  Methought  it  odd  if  I 
could  not  gauge  that  sturdy  chest  of  thine  with  mine  eyes,  see- 
ing that  I  have  looked  at  it  so  often." 

Yet  this  pretty  speech  gave  me  no  elation,  simply  because 
the  black,  half-forgotten  past  rose  unexpectedly  before  me. 
Her  arms,  half-bare,  snow-white,  and  delicately  rounded,  had 
been  in  the  vicinity  of  my  eyes  during  this  operation  ;  and  just 
above  the  wrist  of  one  of  them  I  saw  the  livid  cicatrix  of  a 
wound.  'Twas  the  first  time  I  had  seen  it,  and  instantly  it 
flashed  into  my  mind  how  it  had  come  there.  'Twas  a  fearful 
scar,  deep  and  wide,  and  quite  three  inches  long.  Then  a 
movement  of  her  arm  showed  me  the  underside  of  it ;  and  a 
look  at  that  revealed  another  scar  in  a  similar  place,  which  was 
not  quite  so  extensive  or  so  hideous.  But  it  made  me  wince 
far  more  than  the  other  did  ;  since  it  told  me  plainer  than  any 
words  that  her  father's  sword  had  passed  right  through  it. 
This  harsh  jogging  of  my  memory  completely  unmanned  me 
for  the  moment.  However,  directly  afterwards,  half-uncon- 
sciously,  I  pressed  my  lips  to  the  cruel  scar,  and  murmured, 
"  How  brave  of  thee,  my  darling !  " 

She  did  not  reply  to  this,  but  paid  remarkable  attention  to 
the  breastplate ;  tho'  one  glance  told  me  that  her  whole  face 
had  crimsoned,  and  that  half  a  smile  lingered  upon  her  parted 
lips.  Meanwhile  her  nimble  fingers  had  duly  affixed  the  corse- 
let. Then  she  stood  in  front  of  me,  and  looked  me  over  very 
critically. 

"Now,  then,  my  lad,"  she  said  sharply,  her  eyes  twinkling 
like  stars  on  a  frosty  night,  "  pull  yourself  together.  Throw  out 
your  chest,  sir  ;  set  up  your  head,  exalt  your  chin  and  keep  it 
smartly  backward.  Set  your  hands — so.  That's  it  ;  excellently 
well  clone.  Now  straighten  your  carriage,  as  becomes  a  wor- 
thy man-at-arms,  and  as  behoves  a  cavaliero  of  His  Highness's. 
Bravo  !  I  call  that  fine — just  fine.  Thou'rt  every  inch  a  sol- 


THE  START  FOR  THE  WARS.  357 

dier,.  dear  lad,  and  the  best  swordsman  in  England, — and  the 
noblest,  truest,  dearest  gentleman  in  Christendom  !  " 

And,  in  broad  daylight,  she  jumped  into  my  arms, 
clasped  her  hands  firmly  round  my  neck,  and  fairly  hugged  me, 
whilst  her  warm  young  breast  was  pressed  against  that  emotion- 
less breastplate,  that  resisted  all  the  efforts  of  Ned  Armstrong's 
foolish  heart  to  leap  through  its  lifeless  steel. 

Just  then  mother  came  and  caught  us  in  this  very  compro- 
mising attitude. 

"  Hypocrite  !  "  she  exclaimed  indignantly. 

At  this  my  mistress  let  go  her  hold  on  me  precious  quick, 
and  fairly  defied  dear  mother  with  her  eyes.  For  a  brief  space 
they  stood  silent  and  bitterly  angry  a  yard  or  so  apart,  each 
gazing  at  the  other  with  a  contempt  so  lofty  that  mere  words 
were  quite  powerless  to  convey  it  in  its  entirety. 

To  me  'twas  an  ugly  moment.  I  owed  well-nigh  everything 
to  these  two  women  ;  yet  here  they  were,  ready  and  willing  to 
hurt  one  another  on  my  account.  I  felt  chilled  and  miserable 
to  behold  them  thus  ;  but  in  the  midst  of  my  distress,  kind 
Providence  favored  me  with  something  approaching  an  inspira- 
tion. I  seized  Dorothy's  injured  arm,  and  held  it  firmly  before 
mother's  eyes.  The  maiden  said,  "  How  dare  you,  sir ! " — that 
is,  at  least,  as  plain  as  looks  could  say  so — then  made  an  effort 
to  get  free,  but  discovered  my  grasp  was  not  affected  by  any 
struggling. 

"  Mother,"  said  I — and  my  tone  enlisted  her  best  attention — 
"  I  have  already  told  you  how  some  months  agone  your  son 
duped,  cheated,  and  played  upon  Sir  Nicholas  Marvin  and  his 
daughter.  But  I  have  not  told  you  yet  that,  when  Sir  Nicholas 
discovered  your  son's  infamy,  he  swore  he  would  send  him  at 
once  to  the  place  to  which  he  deserved  to  go.  Accordingly,  he 
seized  his  sword  there  and  then,  and  thrust  straight  at  your 
son's  heart.  And  that  would  assuredly  have  been  the  end  of 
him,  had  not  Dorothy  interposed  her  arm.  She  preserved  his 
life  by  receiving  her  father's  steel  right  through  it.  And 
to  prove  the  truth  of  this,  here  is  that  arm ;  here  is  where  the 
sword  entered  it,  and  here  is  where  it  came  out  of  the  back. 
Therefore,  dear  mother,  methinks  '  hypocrite  '  is  a  very  harsh 
word  to  use." 

Mother  seemed  bewildered  at  this,  whilst  her  younger  adver- 
sary still  faced  her  squarely,  with  fierce  looks  and  lofty  silence 
and  a  bold  challenge  in  her  eyes.  However,  no  sooner  had 
I  said  my  say,  than  mother's  eyes  grew  wet,  and  she  ex- 
claimed, midway  betwixt  a  sob  and  a  sigh — 


358  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

"  Forgive  me,  you  noble  girl,  for  wronging  you  in  my  heart! 
There  is  something  in  your  nature,  child,  I  don't  quite  under- 
stand." 

•'  Dear  mother,"  replied  the  maid  softly,  and  in  a  voice  that 
was  all  timidity,  "  please  let  me  recall  that  unkind  speech  I  used 
last  night.  I  was  angry  then,  and " 

I  waited  to  hear  no  more ;  but,  with  a  bosom  alive  with 
happiness,  strode  hastily  to  the  door  to  look  at  the  weather. 
And  I  came  very  near  colliding  with  John  on  its  threshold; 
whilst  the  sight  of  my  gleaming  breastplate  nearly  upset  his 
mental  equilibrium  as  well  as  his  physical  one.  But  very  soon 
he  recovered,  and  cast  a  glance  at  the  two  occupants  of  the 
kitchen,  clapped  me  on  the  shoulder  (quite  a  flippant  proceed- 
ing this  for  one  so  solemn),  and  remarked,  "  Our  Ned  is  a  clev- 
erer fellow  than  I  thought,"  and  then  assisted  me  in  my  study 
of  the  precise  condition  of  the  English  climate.  Still  we  had 
only  just  managed  to  discover  that  it  continued  to  rain,  that  the 
wind  was  in  the  west,  and  that  the  atmosphere  was  too  warm 
for  the  time  of  year,  when  Betty  called  us  in  to  breakfast. 

When  I  had  got  out  of  bed  half  an  hour  since,  I  could  not 
have  dreamt  that  I  was  to  be  allowed  to  sit  down  so  shortly  to 
such  a  joyful  meal.  I  have  a  recollection  of  pausing  in  the 
midst  of  a  vigorous  attack  on  the  eggs  and  bacon,  to  ask  mis- 
chievously, "  Why  have  you  pulled  your  sleeves  down,  Doro- 
thy ?  "  whereat  mother's  face  shone  with  smiles,  and  pleasure 
glowed  upon  it. 

"  Because  you  rude  men  stare  so  hard  at  arms  that  are  not 
brown  and  hairy,  like  your  own  ugly  ones,"  she  returned  smart- 
ly, and  tried  unsuccessfully  to  hide  her  satisfaction  at  her  own 
retort,  by  looking  as  unconcerned  as  possible. 

By  the  time  the  meal  was  finished  there  was  still  over  an  hour 
of  darkness  left.  Thus  I  had  no  need  to  hurry  to  the  black- 
smith's forge,  which  was  within  a  stone's  throw  of  our  farm- 
stead. 

'f  Ned,"  whispered  my  mistress  in  my  ear,  "  there  is  but  one 
thing  lacking  for  your  complete  equipment.  Thou  hast  no 
horse." 

"  Yes,  that  is  indeed  a  misfortune,"  I  answered  cheerfully, 
trying  hard  to  emulate  her  courageous  spirits  ;  "  but  I  will  make 
the  best  of  an  awkward  matter,  and  do  without  one." 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  I  shall  allow  you,  sir;  it  does  not  become 
a  knight  of  mine  to  start  for  the  wars  ill-found.  Now,  if  you 
will  come  with  me,  peradventure  I  may  give  you  a  little  sur- 
prise." 


THE  START  FOR  THE  WARS.  359 

She  procured  a  lanthorn,  and  led  me  across  our  sloppy  stack- 
yard to  the  stable.  Arrived  there,  she  took  me  past  the  heels 
of  three  of  our  farm  horses,  until  we  came  to  the  end  stall,  where- 
upon she  turned  the  light  on  a  handsome,  powerful  animal  that 
was  tethered  there. 

"What  think  you  of  him,  sir?"  she  asked  triumphantly. 
"  He's  every  inch  a  war-charger.  Here,"  she  added,  in  her 
imperious  fashion,  "just  hold  the  lanthorn,  my  lad,  and  I'll 
introduce  him  to  his  new  master." 

And,  to  my  exceeding  wonderment,  she  gave  the  great  fellow 
a  slap  on  his  flank,  cried,  "  Come  over,  Gustavus  ! "  slipped 
betwixt  him  and  the  wall,  and  proceeded  to  handle  that  animal 
as  though  she  had  lived  amongst  horses  all  her  life.  She  laid 
hold  of  its  head  and  pulled  its  jaws  apart  thereby  displaying 
two  rows  of  gleaming  teeth,  and  exclaimed  excitedly — 

"  See,  my  lad,  he  is  scarcely  six  years  old,  so  is  well  within 
his  prime.  Mark  his  lean"  head,  and  his  bright,  well-opened 
eye.  There's  breed  for  you  !  "  Next  she  stooped  and  seized  a 
big  foreleg  with  one  dainty  hand,  and  ran  the  other  over  it. 
"  'Pon  my  soul,  'tis  a  noble  thing  !  "  she  cried  more  excitedly 
than  ever ;  "  set  the  light  this  way,  sir,  and  look  at  your  new 
property.  Dost  see  the  high  withers,  the  fine  breadth  of  knee, 
and  the  full  six  inches  or  even  more  of  bone  betwixt  it  and  the 
fetlock  ?  Oh,  'tis  a  noble  thing  !  " 

Thereupon  she  descanted  for  a  full  five  minutes  upon  the 
manifold  beauties  of  its  limbs,  whilst  the  way  she  handled  the 
four  of  them,  utterly  destitute  of  fear,  was  something  quite 
astonishing.  Ultimately  she  returned  again  to  its  upper  parts, 
dilated  on  the  straightness  and  shortness  of  the  back,  and 
wound  up  by  stroking  its  big  white  muzzle,  and  by  declaring — 

"  Thou'rt  indeed  a  wondrous  lucky  fellow,  Ned,  to  have  such 
a  horse  at  thy  service.  His  name  must  be  Gustavus  Adolphus, 
and  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  he  will  emulate  his  immortal 
namesake,  whilst  I  have  but  to  ask  that  you  will  treat  him  as 
you  did  dear  Joe,  then  he  will  have  scant  cause  to  grumble." 

Those  last  words  touched  a  very  tender  place.  Yet  the  stab 
had  been  given  quite  unwittingly,  for  she  had  never  learned  the 
manner  of  that  faithful  creature's  death.  This  was  the  second 
time  already  that  morning  that  bitter  things  had  been  uncon- 
sciously recalled.  Albeit,  in  the  midst  of  my  embarrassment,  I 
had  the  sense  to  proffer  many  thanks  for  her  generosity. 

"No  need  to  thank  me,  lad,"  she  replied,  "thy  thanks  are 
clue  to  Master  John.  Some  weeks  agone  I  confided  my  plan  to 
him  of  purchasing  a  horse  and  breastplate  for  the  champion  of 


360  AflSTKESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VIN. 

my  cause.  Accordingly  he  kept  his  eyes  about  him,  and  the 
other  morning  we  hied  to  Taunton  together,  and  struc.c  this 
notable  bargain." 

So  this  was  the  meaning  of  that  neglect  of  me  which  had  dis- 
turbed my  piece  of  mind.  And  if  I  was  made  to  feel  a  fool 
on  that  occasion,  I  was  made  to  feel  both  a  fool  and  an  ingrate 
now.  My  mistress  narrowly  scrutinized  my  face,  and  methinks 
she  guessed  something  of  this  humiliation,  since  she  made  haste 
to  add — 

"  I  have  another  gift  for  Master  Armstrong,  of  course  by  no 
means  so  precious  as  steel  and  horseflesh,  yet  I  would  like  him 
to  cherish  it  now  and  then,  that  is,  if  I  do  not  ask  too  high  a 
favor." 

She  said  this  half  saucily,  half  sadly,  with  something  like  an 
echo  of  lingering  sorrow  in  her  voice.  Then  she  produced  from 
her  pocket  a  small  box  and  handed  it  to  me.  I  made  haste  to 
discover  its  contents.  'Twas  a  little  portrait  of  Mistress  Dorothy 
Marvin.  My  heart  fairly  jumped,  for  if  ever  a  picture  could 
have  been  said  to  speak,  it  was  the  one  I  held  in  my  hand. 
There  was  the  same  glow  of  the  eyes,  the  same  eager  beauty  of 
the  face,  and  the  same  lurking  strength  and  subtlety  about  it, 
whilst  it  was  surrounded  by  a  rich  mass  of  tangled  black-brown 
hair.  She  looked  over  my  shoulder  as  I  gazed  at  it,  and  with 
all  a  woman's  vanity  commended  that  self-same  hair  to  my  notice 
by  pointing  it  out  with  one  finger,  saying — 

"  'Tis  not  so  fine  now  as  it  was  then,  but,  I  may  say,  sir,  that 
by  the  time  Dutch  William  is  King  William  the  Third  of  England, 
and  by  the  time  Ned  Armstrong  is  Sir  Edward  Armstrong, 
baronet,  of  Copeland  Hall,  Mistress  Marvin's  hair  will  be 
as  profuse  as  ever  it  was  aforetime,  for  it  grows  thicker  day  by 
day." 

"Then,  Dorothy,  thou  hast  no  fear  for  the  result  of  the  cam- 
paign ?  "  I  asked,  overjoyed  to  hear  her  hopefulness. 

"  None  whatever,  lad.  Dutch  Will  hath  a  mighty  army,  and 
mighty  men  to  lead  it.  Let  me  see!  there'll  be  Schomberg, 
Churchill,  and  himself,  not  to  mention  Mackay  and  the  lesser 
captains.  Neither  have  I  fear  for  thee,  Ned.  Something 
tells  me  you  will  return  ere  longwith  all  your  rights  and  liberties." 

This  courageous  speech,  and  the  inspiring  way  of  saying  it,  set 
a  longing  in  my  heart  that  nearly  overcame  me. 

"  Prithee,  sweetheart,  I  will  take  one  of  my  rights  forthwith," 
and  I  made  an  attempt  to  kiss  her.  Very  prompt  she  was  to 
frustrate  this  laudable  endeavor,  and  answered  with  a  mocking 
kind  of  gravity — 


THE  START  FOR  THE  WARS.  361 

"  Forward  youth  !  You  call  this  a  right,  do  you  ?  Let  me 
tell  you,  sir,  I  call  it  a  liberty,  and  I'll  not  allow  it !  " 

"  You  have  allowed  it  many  times  before,"  I  pleaded. 

"  I'm  thinking  far  too  often,  sir.  My  cheek  will  surely  lose 
its  market  value,  if  you  have  access  to  it  whene'er  you  feel  in- 
clined." 

Thereupon,  I  was  driven  to  do  the  next  best  thing,  namely,  to 
kiss  the  one  in  the  portrait. 

"  Silly  lad !  "  she  cried  at  that,  with  fun  dancing  in  her  eyes. 
"  Oh,  what  would  Sir  Godfrey  Kneller  say,  if  he  knew  you  used 
his  handiwork  so  cavalierly  ?  What  art  thinking  of  ?  Do  you 
know  you  will  fetch  all  the  paint  off  ? " 

"  Perhaps  that  is  why  thou  art  so  careful  of  the  real  one." 

"  Nay,  nay  ;  you  can  ne'er  take  color  from  this  cheek  o'  mine, 
though  you  may  very  often  bring  more  to  it.  How  many  times 
have  I  had  to  blush  for  you,  and  your  forward  manners,  sir  ? 
But  wit  in  a  man  must  be  rewarded,  for  one  so  seldom  finds  it. 
Here,  you  may  try,  sir  !  " 

And  try  I  did  my  level  best,  but  must  chronicle  a  failure. 
For  to  prove  that  she  was  right  and  I  was  wrong,  my  efforts  only 
added  to  its  rosiness. 

"  Art  satisfied,  Master  Impudence  ?  '  Then  I  may  say,  for  your 
information,  that  next  to  a  righting  man  I  place  a  witty  man,  but 
before  them  both  I  place  one  who  knows  himself  in  the  presence 
of  his  lady." 

Thus  having  got  the  last  word,  as  woman  will  always  have, 
she  ventured  on  an  entirely  different  subject. 

"  Now,  when  you  return,  young  man,"  she  said,  "  do  not  dare 
to  come  and  tell  me  how  brave  you  felt  in  your  first  battle.  And 
if  you  do,  I  shall  certainly  not  believe  you  !  " 

"  Why,  mistress  ? "  I  inquired,  aggrieved  at  this  disparage- 
ment of  my  courage. 

"  Because  dear  papa  always  declared  only  fools  and  liars 
boasted  of  their  first  engagement.  Even  he,  in  his  first  battle, 
kept  ducking  his  head  at  every  volley  from  the  enemy,  whilst  he 
hath  seen  hundreds  of  recruits,  as  the  bullets  have  whizzed  by 
their  ears,  bowing  as  politely  as  the  fops  in  Spring  Garden  of  a 
Sunday." 

This  started  her  on  her  warlike  strain,  and  with  sparkling 
eyes  she  gave  me  a  wonderful  store  of  military  information.  She 
told  me  how  to  ride  into  action,  how  to  handle  my  horse  and 
weapons  when  I  got  there  ;  how  to  deport  myself,  how  to  charge, 
how  to  retreat,  and,  in  fact,  instructed  me  in  every  duty  of  a 
horse  soldier.  Indeed  she  even  gave  me  some  idea  of  what 


362  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

was  expected  of  the  captain  of  a  squadron,  avowing  that  she 
had  no  doubt  I  should  find  it  useful  shortly.  Verily  'twas  an 
education  in  the  theory  of  war  to  listen  to  this  martial  mistress. 
And  to  duly  impress  these  things  upon  my  unreceptive  mind, 
she  made  me  repeat  them  after  her,  as  though  I  was  some  hulk- 
ing schoolboy,  till  I  had  learnt  them  all  by  heart.  After  this 
she  told  me  how  to  treat  and  dress  those  unpleasant  adjuncts  of 
a  battle-field  ;  I  mean  the  wounds  that  accrue  from  scenes  of 
glory.  Finally  she  said — 

"If  black  blood  flows  from  a  cut,  bind  your  kerchief  below 
it,  but  if  the  blood  is  bright  and  pure,  bind  above  it.  Also, 
dear  lad,  I  have  placed  a  bottle  of  your  beloved  balsam  in  your 
saddle-bag;  but  please  apply  it  when  no  one  happens  to  be 
looking." 

This  was  a  terrible  home-thrust,  delivered  very  deftly,  in  a 
tone  cf  the  utmost  gravity,  as  though  she  was  begging  an 
especial  boon. 

"  Mistress,  methinks  it  is  a  mercy  I  have  gotten  my  breast- 
plate on,  to  shield  me  from  thy  tongue,"  said  I,  like  a  very 
gallant  gentleman.  I  was  determined  to  play  my  part,  even  as 
she  was  playing  hers.  She  was  concealing  the  pain  of  parting 
that  gnawed  her  breast,  to  maintain  her  dignity  in  my  sight, 
and  to  keep  my  spirits  alert  and  cheerful,  for  she  knew  full 
well  that  I  should  need  them  all  in  the  great  task  that  lay 
before  me. 

She  assisted  me  to  saddle  Gustavus,  and  then  bade  me  go 
back  to  the  house  to  bid  the  family  good-bye,  and  to  fetch  all 
the  articles  I  intended  taking  on  my  journey.  Thither  I  re- 
turned, and  habited  myself  in  my  riding-boots,  hat,  and  cloak, 
strapped  on  my  sword,  and  put  two  pistols  in  my  pockets,  with 
the  bag  of  gold  John  had  placed  in  my  custody,  together  with  a 
smaller  one  given  me  by  mother.  The  leave-taking  was  a  sad 
one,  for  poor  mother  broke  down  utterly,  whilst  Betty's  case 
was  nearly  similar.  But  John,  for  his  part,  found  neither  words 
nor  tears,  till  as  I  was  crossing  the  threshold  of  the  kitchen 
door,  with  my  heart  like  a  lump  of  lead,  he  squeezed  my  hand, 
and  muttered  in  a  short  low  voice,  "  Remember  !  "  I  glanced 
at  him,  and  saw  his  great  eyes  glowing,  and  his  face  looking 
grim  and  terrible.  As  I  came  to  the  stable,  I  found  Dorothy 
had  led  out  my  horse,  and  was  holding  his  head,  heedless  of 
the  dripping  rain. 

"  My  darling,"  said  I,  "you  must  be  more  careful,  or  you  will 
surely  catch  your  death  of  cold." 

"  What  care  I  for  that  ? "  she  replied,  and  then  said  slowly, 


THE  START  FOR  THE  WARS.  363 

dwelling  on  every  word,  and  looking  hard  into  my  face  the 
while,  "  Thou  art  setting  forth  on  a  great  mission,  Ned,  my 
brave  lad.  Go  forth  and  win,  and  then  come  back  to  me. 
Thou  hast  four  things  to  accomplish.  Gain  thine  own  heritage, 
then  mine,  avenge  thy  father's  death,  and,  if  possible,  avenge 
mine.  Is  it  too  much  to  ask  thee  ?  " 

"  My  darling  !  "  I  exclaimed,  slipping  my  left  arm  round  her. 

"  And  promise  me,  dear,"  she  whispered,  so  brokenly  that 
she  could  scarce  utter  the  words,  "  that  whatever  may  befall, 
you  will  ne'er  forget  me.  I  could  not  bear  to  lose  you  now, 
Ned." 

At  that  I  thought  of  the  wet  morning  in  the  spring,  when  the 
gates  of  hell  were  opened  out  before  me  ;  I  thought  of  the 
night  at  Kelston  Manor,  of  the  night  in  the  goyal  amid  the 
Quantocks,  of  that  hour  in  Taunton  Jail  and  the  fever-haunted 
ones  of  a  month  ago.  All  these  thoughts  swept  into  my  mind 
together,  and  coupled  with  the  courageous  maid's  wistful  tender- 
ness, mastered  me  completely. 

"  How  can  I  forget  you,  Dorothy  ?"  T  asked,  and  the  tears 
were  near  my  eyes. 

"  Don't,  Ned,"  she  said,  drooping  her  lashes,  because  my 
face  unnerved  her,  "  else  I  must  cry ;  and  I  would  not  like  to 
cry ! " 

I  mounted  great  Gustavus,  and  my  mistress  let  go  his  head. 
She  came  to  his  left  side,  and  I  lowered  my  face  to  the  level  of 
my  thigh  whilst  she  put  up  her  lips. 

"  Good-bye,  brave  heart." 

"  Good-bye,  dear  lad,  good-bye." 

I  touched  my  horse,  whereupon  he  began  to  sedately  pick 
his  way  among  the  mire.  Yet  almost  instantly  an  irresistible 
impulse  made  me  look  back  o'er  my  shoulder.  I  saw  the  girl 
limp  and  listless  against  the  stable  door,  with  the  first  rays  of 
daylight  flecking  her  hair  and  forehead.  Her  face  was  white  to 
the  lips,  her  mouth  was  quivering  and  her  eyes  welled  tears. 
I  shook  the  bridle  of  great  Gustavus,  whereat  he  exalted  his 
head,  and  set  his  big  legs  forward ;  and  so  in  the  gray  of  the 
morning  I  rode  to  the  wars. 


364  MfSTKESS  DORO THY  MARVIN. 

CHAPTER  XL. 

THE  GREAT  GATHERING  AT  EXETER. 

TORIAS  HANCOCK  was  awaiting  me  close  by  the  doorway  of 
the  forge. 

"  My  eyemers,  lad  !  'er  be  a  booty,  I  rackan,"  said  he,  as 
he  caught  a  glint  of  my  fine  corslet  that  peeped  from  under  my 
cloak. 

Next  moment  our  horses  were  breasting  bravely  westward. 
His  was  a  raw-boned  gray,  very  high  in  the  shoulders,  and  stiff 
on  its  legs,  which  might  have  come  out  of  the  ark  with  Noah 
for  aught  I  could  tell,  such  was  its  grave  bearing,  and  ancient 
cast  of  countenance. 

By  this  the  east  was  flecked  with  stealthy  gray,  that  came 
glancing  slowly  over  the  hill-tops.  It  rolled  gradually  away 
like  a  thick  white  curtain.  Presently  the  wooded,  leafless 
combes  peeped  out  of  it,  and  afterwards  the  autumn-tinted 
valley.  Now,  though  the  sky  was  streaming  with  a  steady  flow 
of  water,  and  the  clouds  were  murky,  dark,  and  lowering,  and 
though  they  dipped  among  the  hedgerows  and  the  stubble  at 
every  few  yards  distant,  my  spirits  soared  high  above  this 
gloom  and  sombreness.  Whether  'twas  the  pride  of  love  within 
my  heart,  the  sweetness  of  my  darling's  kiss  still  hot  upon 
my  lips,  the  nobility  of  her  courage,  or  the  mighty  enterprise 
that  lay  before  me  ;  I  cannot  say,  with  any  degree  of  certainty, 
which  of  them  it  was  that  heartened  me  so  thoroughly.  Per- 
haps each  fact  contributed  a  share  of  solace,  nor  must  I  omit 
to  mention  another  cheerful  circumstance. 

I  had  no  further  fear  of  the  King's  men.  Dutch  Will  had 
arrived  before  them,  as  I  had  prayed  he  would  do.  'Tis  this 
matter  that  hath  given  birth  to  the  whimsical  tradition  concern- 
ing Black  Ned  and  the  devil. 

Master  Thompson  of  Taunton  Jail  was  never  a  perfectly  sane 
man  after  the  strange  events  of  the  night  of  my  escape.  He 
always  averred  (even  on  oath)  that  the  little  man  in  the  cloak 
was  the  devil  himself,  who  had  done  Black  Ned  the  immense 
honor  of  delivering  him  from  the  scaffold  in  person,  and  that 
he  had  fetched  me  hence  to  abide  with  him  ever  after.  Whot 
added  color  to  this  story,  was  the  fact  that  Black  Ned  was 
never  afterwards  recognized.  My  illness  left  a  permanent 
mark  upon  me,  and  this,  combined  with  my  exalted  station, 


THE  GREA  T  CA  THE  KING  A  T  EXETER.  365 

proved  an  ample  disguise  for  Sir  Edward  Armstrong  when  I 
assumed  that  title. 

We  found  Exeter  in  a  state  of  turmoil  and  extraordinary 
excitement.  The  populace,  with  one  voice,  had  already  declared 
for  the  Invader,  whilst  the  magistracy  and  clergy  had  declared 
for  the  King.  Indeed,  Lamplugh  the  bishop  had  deserted  his 
diocese,  and  with  his  subordinate  the  dean,  for  company,  was 
fleeing  in  haste  to  London.  Wondrous  stones  were  afloat  con- 
cerning the  might  and  magnificence  of  the  Prince's  army. 
Expectation  was  rife  throughout  the  city,  yet  that  day  brought 
no  definite  news  of  His  Highness's  intentions. 

Tobias  and  I  had  some  difficulty  in  securing  a  lodging  for 
ourselves  and  horses,  for  the  town  was  thronged  with  yeomen 
from  the  surrounding  districts,  anxious  to  witness  the  Dutch- 
man's coming.  Eventually  we  had  the  good  fortune  to  procure 
one  at  a  hostel  hard  by  the  Cathedral  Close,  bearing  the  festive 
sign  of  the  Pipe  and  Tabor. 

On  every  hand  treason  was  freely  spo.ken  against  the  King, 
and  the  utmost  good  will  was  manifested  by  the  citizens 
towards  the  Prince  of  Orange.  True,  some  surprise  was  ex- 
pressed that  he  should  have  ventured  to  strike  from  the  West, 
seeing  how  Monmouth  had  failed.  Nevertheless  'twas  plain  to 
all  this  was  to  be  no  pettifogging  business  of  a  few  hundred 
ploughmen  and  country  yokels.  Not  that  I  seek  to  disparage 
them  either,  for  no  men  ever  fought  tyranny  and  superior 
strength  more  gloriously  than  did  those  simple  sons  of  the  soil 
in  '85.  But,  in  this  enterprise,  all  things  had  been  carefully 
prepared.  The  sentiments  of  the  nation  had  been  sounded 
and  the  Prince  had  been  invited  over  by  a  representative  body 
of  the  people. 

The  day  following  our  arrival  an  incident  occurred  that 
whetted  the  public  appetite,  more  than  all  the  hearsay  had 
done.  A  company  of  horse  appeared  before  the  city  with  my 
lord  Mordaunt  at  its  head,  and  with  Prince  William's  chap- 
lain, Bishop  B\irnet  riding  by  his  side.  At  the  report  of  their 
approach  the  mayor  had  ordered  the  gates  to  be  closed,  but  at 
the  first  demand  they  were  opened  to  admit  them.  The  com- 
pany rode  to  the  market  square,  whereupon  the  chaplain,  a 
thick-set,  broad-shouldered,  squat  fellow,  with  a  great  bullet 
head,  and  bull  neck,  proclaimed  aloud  that  His  Highness 
would  arrive  next  day  ;  whereupon  the  whole  place  went  nearly 
wild  with  excitement  and  eagerness. 

The  Deanery  was  instantly  prepared,  and  set  in  order  for  the 
Prince's  reception.  The  citizens  brought  out  flags  and  bunt- 
24 


366  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

ing,  and  decorated  their  houses,  and  an  arch  of  triumph  was 
set  up  close  by  the  west  gate,  and  inscribed  in  gold  letters 
thereon  was,  "  Welcome  to  the  Champion  of  the  Protestant  Re- 
ligion," on  one  side,  whilst  on  the  other  was,  "God  Bless  the 
Upholder  of  the  Rights  and  Liberties  of  the  English  People." 
'Twas  an  eager,  tumultuous  time,  kinsmen,  I  can  tell  you,  and 
even  now,  as  my  old  head  recalls  it,  I  seem  to  feel  the  flush  of 
expectation  come  back  to  my  worn-out  frame. 

The  great  day  arrived  at  last.  'Twas  the  ninth  of  November. 
Tobe  and  I  took  our  stand  betimes,  hard  by  the  west  gate  of 
the  city,  to  have  a  goodly  view  of  the  spectacle.  'Twould  but 
be  presumption  in  me  to  dare  try  to  fully  describe  the  army  as 
it  marched  in.  Its  greatness  thrilled  those  who  saw  it  with 
awe,  and  all  men  concurred  that  it  was  the  grandest  sight  ever 
witnessed  in  our  parts.  That  day  all  the  city  was  in  the  streets. 
The  display  of  bunting  was  really  brave  and  gay,  whilst  flags 
and  banners  floated  from  well-nigh  every  bedroom  window. 
As  for  the  throng,  it  was  everywhere.  The  footpaths  were 
clogged  with  it;  and  the  house  windows  were  thick  with  a 
strangely  expectant  mass  of  humanity ;  nor  was  this  all,  as  the 
house-tops  were  clustered  with  the  same,  whilst  every  signboard 
over  shop  or  tavern,  which  offered  the  slightest  vantage-ground, 
had  at  least  two  limbs  dangling  from  it. 

At  length  the  distant  blare  of  trumpets  broke  in  on  the  murky 
November  air,  mingled  with  the  huzzahs  of  the  thousands  who 
had  gone  forth  for  miles  along  the  road  to  meet  the  army. 
Every  eye  was  strained  to  catch  the  first  glimpse  of  the  In- 
vaders. By  and  by  the  shouting  came  nearer  and  nearer,  and 
the  rolling  of  the  drums  struck  out  quite  audible.  Then  came 
a  broad  line  along  the  rich  Exe  valley,  and  through  the  misti- 
ness of  the  morning  it  was  seen  to  wind  past  Haldon  Hill  on 
its  march  from  Chudleigh.  The  broad  column  came  creeping 
up  to  the  western  gate,  and  when  the  head  of  it  was  in  full  view, 
a  roar  broke  forth  from  the  concourse  within  the  city  enclos- 
ures, and  amidst  this  babel  of  voices  the  vanguard  came 
prancing  by. 

My  lord  Macclesfield  was  the  first  man  of  the  army  of  deliv- 
erance to  come  into  the  city,  and  he  was  unmolested.  Close 
behind  him  followed  two  hundred  gentlemen — of  England  for 
the  most  part.  The  sight  of  them  alone  called  forth  a  hubbub 
of  admiration,  for  every  man  was  attired  in  glittering  cuirass 
and  helmet,  with  sword  on  shoulder,  and  mounted  on  a  Flem- 
ish war-horse.  By  his  side  each  had  a  black  negro  from  the 
Guinea  coast  in  attendance  on  his  person.  And  to  see  their 


THE  GREAT  GATHERING  AT  EXETER.  367 

grinning  ebony  faces,  embellished  by  curious  turbans,  embroid- 
ered sashes,  and  white  feathers,  set  the  crowd  more  agog  than 
ever.  Next  came  a  splendid  company  of  Swedish  cavalry. 
Fine-grown  men  they  were,  attired  in  suits  of  black  armor,  and 
with  bearskin  cloaks  slung  over  their  shoulders,  the  original 
owners  of  which  they  themselves  had  slain.  Their  gleaming 
broadswords  and  martial  aspect  called  forth  great  admiration. 
Yet  this  was  nought  at  all  compared  to  the  wild  enthusiasm 
when,  amidst  a  band  of  gentles  and  pages,  a  huge  floating 
banner  appeared,  having  upon  its  waving  folds  the  inscription, 
"  The  Protestant  Religion  and  the  Liberties  of  England." 

I  talk  of  enthusiasm  in  this  matter,  but  what  of  the  shout- 
ing, and  the  frantic  joy  when  the  deliverer  himself  rode  in  ? 
Forty  resplendent  footmen  ran  beside  him.  On  a  picturesque 
white  charger  there  sate — to  our  eyes  at  least — the  greatest  man 
in  Christendom. 

I  have  a  vision  of  him  before  me  at  this  hour ;  I  see  again 
the  white  plume  of  his  Montero  hat,  the  glint  of  the  armor  on 
his  back  and  breast,  the  sombre  velvet  of  his  breeches,  the 
broad  expanse  of  his  brow,  the  lustre  and  keenness  of  his  hawk- 
ish eye,  the  rugged  thoughtfulness  of  his  features,  the  firm  set 
of  his  mouth,  and  the  commanding  and  soldierlike  aspect  of  his 
whole  deportment  and  demeanor.  He  rode  by  without  heed  to 
the  crowd,  without  a  smile  or  relaxation  of  a  single  feature — a 
carved  statue  for  gravity  and  sedateness.  I  cried  out  till  my 
throat  was  sore,  yet  'twas  only  as  the  sound  of  a  drop  of  water 
falling  into  the  uproarious  ocean.  'Twas  whispered  that  the  old 
man,  with  the  faintest  stoop  in  his  bearing,  was  the  great  Merechal 
Schomberg.  He  rode  beside  the  right-hand  of  His  Highness. 

Following  these  heroes  came  a  long  line  of  the  famous  Swiss 
footmen,  great  alike  in  valor  and  discipline.  They  were  men 
of  the  ripest  experience  in  warfare,  being  the  mercenaries  of 
many  a  continental  army.  At  their  heels  regiment  after  regi- 
ment of  British  troops  poured  in.  And  not  from  the  camp  at 
Hounslow,  either.  They  had  undergone  service  in  Holland, 
Germany,  and  France,  and  had  bled  on  the  field  of  Seneff, 
whilst  others  had  fought  the  Mohammedan  Turk  in  and  around 
Vienna.  After  them  came  a  regiment  of  swarthy  black-bearded, 
six-foot  Brandenburghers,  armed  with  pike  and  musket,  and 
bringing  up  the  rear  was  an  immense  crowd  of  English  refugees, 
who  had  now  come  to  avenge  their  wrongs  and  regain  their 
liberties.  Amid  this  motley  crew  was  one  who  did  not  fail  to 
take  back  my  recollections  three  years  at  a  bound  to  the  less 
glorious  and  less  majestic  pageant  of  Monmouth. 


368  H//SrA>£SS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

This  sudden  flood  of  memory  was  brought  about  by  a  glimpse 
of  a  fanatic  knave  in  a  Geneva  cloak  and  a  pent-house  hat.  I 
beheld,  for  a  moment,  his  face  hideously  marked  with  the  scurvy, 
his  restless  eyes,  and  keen  twitching  physiognomy;  and  in- 
stantly I  knew  it  for  that  of  the  Scotch  doctor,  Robert  Fergu- 
son, who  was  a  cross  betwixt  a  rogue  and  a  madman.  Many 
wild  discourses  had  I  heard  from  his  lips  during  the  few  weeks 
which  had  elapsed  between  the  Duke's  landing  and  the  final 
affair  of  Sedgemoor.  It  brought  a  smile  to  my  face  to  see  him 
now  at  the  tail  of  the  array,  whereas  he  had  formerly  been  at 
the  head  of  it,  for  the  company  of  great  men,  both  military  and 
ecclesiastical,  was  no  place  for  this  half-witted,  canting  creature. 

After  the  refugees  came  twenty  heavy  pieces  of  brass  cannon, 
each  drawn  by  sixteen  cart  horses.  At  sight  of  these,  the  awe 
and  admiration  of  the  populace  was  not  anywise  diminished, 
whilst  a  strange  wooden  contrivance,  drawn  on  wheels,  excited 
wonderment,  till  it  became  known  that  it  was  a  movable  smithy 
for  repairing  arms. 

This  was  the  close  of  a  brilliant  pageant ;  whereupon  folks  ' 
dispersed  to  discuss  the  scene  and  the  prospect  of  their  cham- 
pion's success. 

Tobias  and  I  followed  on  the  heels  of  the  multitude  back  to 
our  hostel,  and  as  we  walked  thence  I  found  him  heavy  of  wit 
and  unwilling  to  talk.  'Twas  but  a  natural  way  of  his,  for  the 
more  he  was  impressed  by  any  sight  or  circumstance,  the  less 
he  sought  to  impress  his  friends  of  the  same  by  word  of  mouth. 

A  rude  surprise  was  awaiting  us  when  we  returned  to  the  Pipe 
and  Tabor.  'Twas  a  comfortable  tavern,  and  the  landlord  a 
keen  fellow ;  indeed,  a  thought  too  keen  for  friend  Tobias's 
liking.  We  were  enjoying  a  nicely  cooked  meal  when  this  per- 
son came  to  our  apartment. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  he,  with  a  very  becoming  perturbation, 
"  I  am  much  distressed  to  say  that  you  must  quit  this  hostel 
to-night." 

"  VVhoy  ?  "  demanded  the  blacksmith. 

"Your  pardon,  sirs;  but  it's  this  how.  Two  of  the  quality 
have  just  arrived,  and  as  every  hostel  in  the  city  is  full,  they 
have  offered  me  treble  the  price  I  am  receiving  from  you. 
Therefore,  gentlemen,  I  have  accepted  their  terms,  and  will  beg 
of  you  again,  to  quit  this  night." 

Master  Hancock  planted  his  two  arms  on  the  table,  stared 
straight  at  the  innkeeper,  and  said  shortly — 

"  Rather  peart,  I  rackon,  this  man,  landlord.  But  here  I  be, 
and  here  I  bide  till  the  army  moveth  vorrard  ! " 


THE  GREA  T  GA  THE  RING  A  T  EXETER.  369 

In  the  face  of  this  mine  host  argued,  mine  host  coaxed,  mine 
host  swore,  and  finally  threatened  my  friend  the  blacksmith. 
Yet  Master  Hancock  hugged  a  grievance ;  therefore,  all  these 
oaths,  threats,  and  protestations  only  served  to  make  him  still 
more  stubborn.  In  the  end,  the 'landlord  left  us,  breathing 
hints  of  summary  proceedings  in  the  immediate  future.  Tobias 
had  right  on  his  side,  for  mine  host  had  not  consulted  us  at  all 
in  the  matter,  which  he  should  have  done,  if  only  out  of  courtesy. 
Accordingly,  here  we  were,  and  here  we  were  going  to  stay, 
quite  prepared,  if  need  be,  to  vindicate  our  position  by  blows  as 
well  as  words.  Indeed,  this  appeared  to  be  a  very  probable 
contingency  when  the  noblemen  came  to  claim  their  lodging,  if 
they  should  chance  to  be  as  determined  as  Tobe  and  I. 

I  was  somewhat  despondent  that  evening ;  I  had  heard  very 
discouraging  news.  'Twas  to  the  effect  that  His  Highness  had 
already  avowed  his  intention  of  only  admitting  the  lustiest  and 
brawniest  recruits  to  his  regiments,  as  he  was  not  wishful  for  an 
indifferent  army.  He  had  brought  so  fine  a  force  with  him, 
that  he  could  afford  to  be  nice  in  the  selection  of  his  men. 

Now  I  not  being  blessed  by  nature  with  anything  of  a  phy- 
sique to  boast  of,  my  chance  of  becoming  enrolled  was  of  the 
slenderest.  As  for  the  blacksmith,  he,  too,  was  distressed  to 
think  of  my  ill-fortune.  On  his  own  part  he  had  no  qualms,  for 
I  gravely  question  whether  there  was  a  man  in  the  whole  army 
so  liberally  endowed  with  bone,  muscle,  and  inches.  This  edict 
was  undoubtedly  hard  towards  me.  And  'twas  a  cheerless 
reflection  that  I  should  be  obliged  to  return  to  Chilverley  with- 
out striking  a  blow  for  the  cause.  No,  I  could  not  do  that.  The 
maid  had  bid  me  go  forth  and  win.  Then,  and  not  till  then, 
would  I  return  to  her.  Besides,  I  had  determined,  long  ere  the 
words  had  issued  from  her  lips,  that  I  would  ne'er  go  back  until 
I  had  regained  her  freedom  and  mine  own. 

I  brooded  on  this  new  misfortune  for  some  time.  Presently 
my  thoughts  were  disturbed  quite  rudely,  as  a  clatter  of  tongues 
and  a  jingle  of  spurs  came  from  the  inn  passage,  and  instantly 
our  room  door  was  flung  violently  open,  and  two  brilliantly 
attired  cavaliers  stepped  in,  with  the  grinning  landlord  at  their 
backs. 

I  must  pause  one  moment  to  describe  the  foremost  of  these 
gentlemen,  because  'tis  a  fitting  thing  to  give  ample  allowance 
to  a  great  man.  though  I  knew  not  the  might  of  his  reputation 
then,  or  the  illustrious  name  he  carried.  He  was  in  the  prime  of 
life,  halting  in  gait,  and  very  narrow-chested,  but  his  face  was 
one  to  bear  in  mind.  'Twas  perfectly  livid,  i'  faith  almost 


370  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

deathlike  in  its  pallor.  It  bore  a  roving,  restless,  careworn 
look,  that  seemed  to  tell  of  both  mental  and  bodily  suffering, 
though  whether  this  was  so  I  cannot  say.  Otherwise  his  features 
were  regular,  cleanly  chiselled,  and  handsome  in  themselves, 
bespeaking  a  goodly  share  of  birth  and  intellect.  There  was 
also  a  bright  strong  glitter  about  the  eyes  that  strangely  belied 
his  uniform  haggardness  and  the  general  listlessness  of  his 
deportment.  His  body  accorded  well  with  his  countenance. 
'Twas  of  painful  thinness,  all  bone  and  corner,  whilst  even  the 
thickness  of  his  suit  failed  to  conceal  the  gaunt  outline  of  his 
flesliless  limbs.  His  dress  well  became  a  man  of  wealth  and 
station,  inasmuch  that  his  cloak  was  of  purple  satin,  edged  with 
sables,  and  his  breeches  exactly  matched  it.  A  neat  periwig 
was  set  well  back  from  a  high  and  bloodless  forehead,  and  a 
broad-brimmed  hat,  with  a  large  white  feather,  that  added  a 
touch  of  jauntiness,  surmounted  it. 

"  So  these  are  the  cuckoldy  rogues,  host  ?  "  said  he  in  a 
decisive  fashion,  and  with  the  air  of  a  great  gentleman. 

"  Those  words  in  your  teeth  ! "  quoth  I  angrily,  for  his  inso- 
lence was  more  than  I  could  brook. 

"  Landlord,"  said  he,  betwixt  a  smile  and  a  snarl,  "  I  trust 
you  have  a  horse-trough  in  the  yard." 

"  Certainly,  my  lord." 

"  Then  will  you  have  the  goodness  to  summon  the  drawers 
and  stable-boys,  so  that  these  fellows  may  make  its  acquaint- 
ance ? " 

"  Certainly,  my  lord,"  and  the  host  grinned  over  the  speaker's 
shoulder  at  Tobe  and  me,  and  skipped  away  to  muster  his 
forces. 

Meantime  the  new-comers  stood  just  inside  our  apartment 
chatting.  As  for  me,  I  felt  my  anger  rising  steadily;  whilst 
Tobias  drained  his  mug  of  cider,  and  murmured  something 
about  "Zons  o'  Antichraist  "  under  his  breath. 

Hereupon  the  landlord  re-appeared,  with  half  a  dozen  of  the 
inn-servants  at  his  heels.  The  person  addressed  as  my  lord 
instantly  instructed  this  little  company  to  kick  us  out  of  the 
place.  This  they  promised  to  do,  and  forthwith  set  about  its 
accomplishment.  However,  they  did  not  make  allowances  for 
Tobias,  seeing  that  in  two  minutes,  with  some  assistance  from 
me,  he  had  distributed  sundry  broken  pates,  black  eyes,  and 
bloody  noses.  Neither  did  he  stop  here,  since  he  seized  each 
of  the  gallants  unexpectedly  by  the  nape  of  the  neck,  and 
cracked  their  heads  smartly  together.  But  this  was  quite  too 
much  for  gentlemen  to  put  up  with,  therefore  they  whipped  out 


THE  OPENING  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN.  371 

their  rapiers  with  the  fury  of  wild  cats  and  sprang  at  us.  For  a 
moment  there  was  a  fierce  scuffle,  during  which  our  opponents' 
steel  flashed  unpleasantly  near  our  breasts.  Still,  we  were  able 
to  draw  our  own  weapons,  and  Tobe's  superior  physique  and 
my  superior  skill  enabled  us  to  get  the  best  of  the  argument. 
The  blacksmith  soon  disarmed  his  man,  but  the  haggard  fellow 
whom  I  had  engaged  I  speedily  found  to  utterly  belie  his  ap- 
pearance. 'Twas  evident  he  possessed  considerable  knowledge 
of  fence,  and  it  was  only  my  youth  and  vigor  that  gave  me  the 
advantage.  In  the  end  I  was  victorious  ;  and  then  it  was  that 
our  assailants  showed  themselves  true  gentlemen.  They  ac- 
cepted their  defeat  without  any  tinge  of  animosity ;  and  so 
gracefully  did  they  compliment  the  pair  of  us  upon  our  prowess, 
that  very  shortly  all  the  ill-will  between  us  was  dispelled.  Yet 
when  the  elder  of  the  twain  announced  himself  as  the  Earl  of 
Danby,  I  may  say  that  I  felt  none  too  easy  in  mind,  for  that 
nobleman  was  one  of  the  most  influential  of  William's  sup- 
porters. Peradventure  he  is  better  known  to  the  younger  gen- 
eration as  the  Duke  of  Leeds,  perhaps  the  most  celebrated 
politician  of  his  time.  Howbeit  Tobias  certainly  did  not  share 
my  qualms,  for  in  the  face  of  this  avowal  the  blacksmith  re- 
marked with  stolid  gravity — 

"  Thou  hast  a  mighty  thick  'ead,  my  lord — a  mighty  thick 
un." 

The  result  of  our  bout  and  subsequent  reconciliation  was 
that  a  compromise  was  arrived  at,  and  the  four  of  us  occupied 
the  two  rooms  between  us.  The  famous  earl  and  his  friend 
took  to  us  in  the  most  surprising  manner,  and  I  ne'er  wish  to 
meet  with  men  more  sociable  and  kindly  disposed.  Later  in 
the  evening  I  chanced  to  mention  my  difficulty  in  regard  to 
the  army,  and  whilst  he  accepted  Tobe's  services  on  behalf  of 
the  Prince  forthwith,  he  promised  to  do  what  he  could  for  me. 
And  the  following  day  he  proved  himself  equal  to  his  word, 
seeing  that  he  brought  good  news. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

THE   OPENING   OF   THE   CAMPAIGN. 

I  SAY  the  earl  brought  good  news.  He  also  brought  some- 
thing more  tangible,  to  wit,  a  permit  from  the  Prince  to  admit 
us  into  a  regiment  of  British  foot.  As  a  consequence,  next 


2-j  >  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

morning  we  were  duly  installed  in  that  of  Ossory — at  least,  it 
still  bore  that  nobleman's  honored  name. 

That  very  afternoon  began  a  time  of  tribulation.  'Twas 
shoulder  musket,  present  musket,  poise  musket,  draw  sword, 
present  sword,  shoulder  sword  all  the  livelong  day.  We  were 
among  a  band  of  forty  new  recruits,  and  were  put  through  that 
infernal  manual  till  our  arms  and  legs  ached  nigh  to  dropping 
off  our  bodies,  and  our  muscles  were  as  sore  and  stiff  as  though 
they  had  been  in  receipt  of  a  daily  cudgelling.  Neither  of  us 
groaned,  nor  complained,  nor  flinched,  but  went  through  the 
irksome  duties  day  by  day,  and,  being  quite  jaded,  slept  sound 
o'  nights. 

His  Highness  was  a  great  soldier.  He  would  not  have  his 
army  a  rabble,  therefore  he  chose  his  recruits  (who  were  not 
too  numerous)  with  the  utmost  care,  and  only  the  best  grown 
and  healthiest  of  men  could  hope  for  enlistment.  And  once  he 
had  selected  them,  for  hours  they  were  rigorously  drilled,  that 
they  might  be  a  credit  to  the  army  when  the  time  for  action 
came.  We  were  not  permitted  to  enter  a  horse  regiment — 
indeed,  none  of  the  new  soldiers  were.  Therefore  our  horses 
were  sent  to  the  rear,  to  assist  in  bringing  up  the  transports 
and  artillery. 

Exeter  at  this  time  was  a  veritable  theatre  of  war.  The  city 
rang  with  warlike  talk  and  sounds.  The  smith's  hammer  ne'er 
ceased  morning,  noon,  nor  night,  neither  did  that  of  the  ar- 
morer. On  every  open  space  of  green,  square,  or  common,  the 
recruits  were  fashioned  into  soldiers  throughout  the  day,  whilst 
men  of  warlike  mien  and  aspect  were  to  be  found  in  all  quarters 
of  the  town. 

The  strictest  discipline  was  maintained.  'Twas  the  best 
behaved  host  ever  known.  It  neither  caroused,  nor  swore,  nor 
gambled.  It  did  not  steal  or  pillage  ;  but  was  sober  and  marvel- 
lously well  conducted.  Mind,  I  do  not  mean  to  say  this  army 
was  so  admirable  in  its  behavior  of  its  own  free  will,  but  the 
long  and  the  short  of  it  was,  it  had  a  leader,  a  master,  a  giant 
of  determination  and  strength  of  will  and  mind.  The  Prince 
embodied  all  this,  which  his  soldiers  knew.  His  word  was  law. 
There  were  times  when  English,  Dutch,  Swiss,  and  German 
felt  disposed  to  swear,  yet,  no  matter  whom  he  might  be,  he 
swore  under  his  breath.  Otherwise  there  was  the  wooden  horse 
to  teach  him  that  His  Highness  would  be  obeyed.  Perhaps 
one  man  would  quarrel  with  his  ration  of  beer  and  might  drink 
that  of  his  comrade,  but  three  turns  of  a  drumstick  round  his 
scalp  speedily  made  him  regret  the  dryness  of  his  throat.  The 


THE  OPENING  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN.  373 

commander  inspired  no  love,  but  immense  respect.  He  had 
the  captain's  eye,  the  captain's  mind,  and  the  captain's  arm. 
And  the  first  was  trusted,  the  second  admired,  and  the  latter 
feared.  Though  I  regretted  the  harshness  of  the  discipline, 
my  heart  was  glad,  for  I  had  found  a  leader,  a  great  leader,  a 
mighty  man,  and,  I  doubted  not,  a  conqueror.  This  was  no 
Monmouth — a  mass  of  fears,  revilings,  entreaties,  and  hesitancy. 
No  ;  here  was  a  man  of  strength  and  judgment,  a  rock  on  whom 
every  trooper  might  and  did  lean. 

After  ten  days  tarrying  within  the  city,  preparations  were 
made  for  a  march  forward.  The  King  had  assembled  the  main 
strength  of  his  army  at  Salisbury,  in  Wiltshire ;  and  perhaps 
the  man  on  whose  military  skill  he  most  relied  was  my  lord 
John  Churchill.  My  lord  was  playing  a  bold  game;  tho'  James, 
his  master,  suspected  nothing.  He  shared  the  King's  entire 
confidence,  as  forsooth  he  had  far  greater  military  talent  than 
any  one  else  in  the  Stuart's  army.  However,  there  was  a  pri- 
vate soldier  of  Ossory's  foot  in  Prince  William's  host  who,  if 
so  minded,  could  have  told  enough  to  have  startled  King  James 
out  of  his  senses.  But  this  simple  trooper  kept  his  own  coun- 
sel, and  imparted  the  extent  of  his  knowledge  to  no  one  till  two 
days  previous  to  marching  out  of  Exeter.  Then  he  took  his 
patron,  the  Earl  of  Danby,  into  his  confidence. 

Tobe  and  I,  being  plentifully  supplied  with  money,  still 
shared  our  lodgings  with  my  lord  and  his  kinsman  (the  younger 
gentleman  being  nephew  to  the  earl),  so  long  as  the  army 
remained  in  the  city ;  as  the  common  soldiers  were  billeted  in 
any  hovel  or  cowhouse,  the  place  sadly  lacking  the  necessary 
accommodation  for  so  immense  a  gathering.  Therefore  Tobe 
and  I  greatly  preferred  our  presentabode  to  the  precarious  one 
offered  by  the  regiment.  And  as  any  soldier  was  at  liberty  to 
sleep  where  he  was  so  minded,  providing  that  he  answered  roll- 
call  in  the  morning,  we  remained  at  the  Pipe  and  Tabor.  Ac- 
cordingly, after  the  labor  of  the  day,  we  returned  thither,  and 
indulged  in  a  mug,  a  pipe,  and  a  game  of  backgammon  along 
with  our  condescending  friends.  1'  faith  such  times  as  these 
made  all  men  condescending.  Great  men  perforce  herded  with 
the  lesser  ones,  the  town  being  swollen  out  of  all  size  with  its 
thousands  of  inmates  ;  and  doubtless  many  a  coronet  lay  down 
beside  a  shilling-a-day  trooper. 

Now,  the  night  but  one  before  the  break-up  of  the  quarters 
within  the  city,  we  four  became  engaged  on  the  subject  of  the 
leaders  of  the  war.  My  lord  was  saying  with  exultation  how 
we  had  several  fine  captains  and  the  enemy  had  none. 


374  MISTRESS  DORO TH Y  MARVIN. 

"  Not  so  fast,  my  lord,"  said  I,  for  the  sake  of  argument. 
"  What  of  my  Lord  Churchill  ?  Do  you  not  call  him  a  man  of 
rare  talent  in  the  profession  ?  " 

Hereupon  the  earl  smiled  a  curious  smile,  and  one  strangely 
full  of  superior  understanding.  I  was  nettled  to  think  my 
patron  was  pluming  himself  on  knowledge  of  which  I  had  greater 
store  than  he.  He  thought  he  was  in  possession  of  a  profound 
secret,  and  I  at  once  made  up  my  mind  to  let  him  know  I  shared 
it  with  him.  However,  I  did  not  divulge  mine  own  knowledge 
there  and  then,  for  neither  time  nor  place  was  fitting.  Indeed, 
was  not  the  information  the  deepest  of  secrets  ?  Besides,  I  must 
have  been  very  imprudent  to  have  revealed  it  in  the  presence  of 
even  such  men  as  Tobe  and  my  lord's  kinsman.  Thus  I  con- 
cealed what  I  knew  for  the  time  being,  and  let  the  earl's  smile 
pass  seemingly  unnoticed.  I  waited  quietly  till  supper  had 
been  disposed  of;  then  as  we  fell  to  talking  again,  the  earl 
chanced  to  sit  beside  me,  whilst  Tobe  and  the  young  cavalier 
were  seated  away  from  us  across  the  table. 

"  My  lord,"  said  I,  "if  you  are  disposed  to  step  out  into  the 
yard  with  me,  I  will  interpret  your  smile  of  an  hour  agone." 

His  eyes  met  mine  for  an  instant,  and  they  were  full  of  be- 
wilderment. After  that  he  laughed  softly,  and,  imitating  my 
secrecy,  whispered  back — 

"  I'll  wager  ten  guineas  you  don't." 

"  Done,"  I  returned.     We  clinched  the  bet  upon  the  spot. 

Still  surprised,  but  continuing  to  laugh  in  the  same  stealthy 
fashion,  he  left  the  room,  and  I  followed  immediately  in  his 
wake. 

I  was  not  likely  to  do  harm  by  my  confession,  for  you  will 
remember  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  in  his  letter  to  Sir  Nicholas 
Marvin,  had  stated  that  Danby  had  been  appointed  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  conspirators  in  London.  Therefore  I  told  my 
lord  all  I  knew  and  all  I  had  done.  Neither  did  I  forget  to 
detail  my  interview  with  Churchill  at  Whitehall,  and  afterwards 
to  treat  of  the  death  of  the  baronet  and  the  final  disposal  of  the 
papers.  The  story  took  a  good  quarter  of  an  hour  in  the  tell- 
ing, the  pair  of  us  strolling  up  and  down  the  inn-yard  as  we 
talked. 

"  Gracious  Heaven  !  "  he  gasped,  when  the  recital  was  ended. 
"  I  believe  every  word.  'Tis  so  wondrous  circumstantial. 
Thy  hand,  friend;  thou  art  a  spunky  fellow  !  " 

He  seized  it  in  a  feverish  grip  as  he  spoke,  and  I  felt  his  own 
thin  one  tremble.  'I  was  as  though  I  held  a  bundle  of  nerves 
in  my  grasp. 


THE  OPENING  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN.  375 

"  'Tis  marvellous  !  "  he  said.  "  You  won  Churchill  over  to 
the  cause,  and  do  you  know  what  you  did  for  me  ?  You  saved 
my  neck.  If  the  King's  men  had  captured  those  papers,  there 
would  have  been  sufficient  evidence  to  have  brought  me  to  the 
scaffold.  And  I  was  in  London  at  the  time.  Ton  my  soul, 
what  a  fine  fellow  you  are  ! " 

I  felt  flushed  with  pride  at  this  repeated  praise  from  one 
of  the  highest  men  of  the  time.  For  that  night,  at  least,  I  did 
not  get  the  feel  of  his  trembling  hand  from  out  of  mine.  There 
was  silence  between  us  for  some  minutes,  and  by  the  rays  of  the 
moon  I  could  see  his  livid,  haggard  face  strained,  and  his  brows 
knitted  in  deepest  thought.  By-and-by  he  said  abruptly — 

"  If  you  have  a  mind  to  risk  your  neck  once  more,  my  friend, 
I  will  make  your  fortune." 

"  Or  my  grave,"  I  answered  lightly,  for  it  occurred  to  me  the 
word  "  neck  "  admitted  of  such  a  possibility. 

"  Tush  !  "  he  cried  in  haste,  "  a  man  like  you  doth  not  con- 
sider such  mishaps.  Ton  honor  you.  have  rendered  us  a  rare 
service,  and  I  know  how  to  give  you  a  chance  of  great  ad- 
vancement." 

"My  lord,"  I  replied  with  eagerness,  already  fired  by  his 
manner,  "  I  am  ripe  for  aught,  if  it  shall  only  benefit  the  cause 
one  iota." 

"  I  promise  you,  Master  Armstrong,  'tis  a  mission  that  shall 
stagger  you.  And  if  it  be  only  carried  out  like  the  other  one, 
'twill  end  the  campaign  ere  it  hath  begun." 

"  Then  I  am  yours  to  command,  sir." 

"  Well,  friend,  go  spruce  yourself  up  a  bit.  Get  your  cloak 
and  sword  and  I  will  do  the  same,  for  we  must  repair  to  the 
Prince  to-night." 

"  But  why  to-night  ?  "  I  asked,  surprised  at  this  precipita- 
tion. "  Will  not  to-morrow  do  equally  as  well  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not.  Ere  daylight  in  the  morning  I  shall  be 
riding  post-haste  for  Yorkshire." 

"  What !  and  leave  the  army  ?  " 

"  Yes,  for  a  time.  There  is  a  great  blaze  waiting  to  be  kin- 
dled in  the  north,  and  I  am  the  spark  to  light  it." 

I  understood  his  meaning  perfectly,  but  will  unfold  it  by 
and  by.  I  confess  I  was  about  wild  with  excitement  regarding 
the  course  matters  had  taken.  I  had  not  bargained  for  such 
unheard  of  fortune.  I  was  about  to  be  brought  face  to  face 
with  His  Highness,  and  I  had  been  promised  advancement  by 
one  of  the  highest  men  in  the  state.  All  this  for  a  little  adven- 
ture ! 


376  J//STXZSS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

Here  was  I,  Ned  Armstrong,  thief  and  fugitive,  and  more 
lately  private  soldier  in  the  Dutchman's  army,  about  to  be 
brought  under  the  personal  notice  of  the  rising  star  of  Europe. 
I  trembled  as  I  brushed  my  hair ;  I  trembled  as  I  gathered  my 
cloak  around  me,  and  as  1  buckled  on  my  sword.  I  trembled 
as  I  thought  of  the  risk  to  my  neck  ?  Surely  not.  Nay,  I 
thought  of  doing  a  mighty  service,  of  which  my  lord  had  prom- 
ised me  the  chance.  And  when  I  had  done  it,  I  thought  of 
returning  to  my  darling — celebrated  !  my  name  on  all  men's 
lips. 

Had  not  Mistress  Dorothy  Marvin  bid  me  go  forth  and  win, 

and  then  come  back  to  her?  Here  was  I Bah!  thou 

inane  old  fool !  better  blush  and  conceal  thy  youthful  follies 
sooner  than  bare  them  before  the  eyes  of  thy  children.  But 
'tis  fine  to  be  young,  to  have  a  sword,  and  an  imagination  ! 
Still  my  featherhead  was  afire,  and  there  was  palsy  in  my  frame 
as  I  girded  on  my  sword  to  visit  the  Prince  in  company  with 
the  earl.  At  every  step  I  took  there  was  ringing  in  my  ears, 
"  Go  forth  and  win,  and  then  come  back  to  me  !  "  and  Taun- 
ton  courthouse  and  my  father's  gibbet  before  my  eyes. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

THE   AUDIENCE. 

As  we  set  out  for  Prince  William's  abode,  my  companion 
slipped  his  arm  through  mine.  This  was  yet  another  mark  of 
the  esteem  he  bore  me.  The  night  was  keen  and  frosty,  but 
free  from  mist  and  fog.  The  sharpness  of  the  air  certainly 
braced  me  in  body,  if  it  failed  to  make  my  mind  any  clearer. 

The  Prince  was  quartered  at  the  Deanery,  a  large  house  in 
proximity  to  the  cathedral.  We  found  it  bathed  with  a  blaze 
of  light.  Every  room  was  brightly  lit,  whilst  in  addition  the 
moon  illuminated  the  exterior,  and  thereby  greatly  enhanced 
the  boldness  of  its  aspect.  It  appeared  to  me  very  like  a  palace 
on  a  small  scale,  for  a  company  of  soldiers  was  drawn  up  in  a 
line  before  the  front  entrance,  with  their  musket-butts  resting 
on  the  pavement,  and  their  forms  rigid  and  motionless  in  the 
moonlight.  Whilst  to  heighten  the  effect  of  the  scene,  half  a 
score  noblemen's  coaches,  with  liveried  servants  in  charge  of 
them,  stood  one  behind  the  other  in  the  roadway  opposite  the 
Deanerv  windows. 


THE  AUDIENCE.  377 

The  first  we  came  to  was  a  carriage  of  sombre  shade,  which 
attracted  Danby's  best  attention.  He  gazed  earnestly  at  the 
panel,  and  reading  out  the  coat  of  arms  therefrom  exclaimed — 

"  'Pon  my  soul,  a  Seymour  !  Can  it  be  the  Duke  himself  ? 
Let  me  see." 

He  examined  the  armorial  bearings  still  closer,  and  said — 

"  Ah,  to  be  sure,  'tis  Sir  Edward.  James,  my  man,  thy  days 
are  numbered !  Thy  throne  is  tottering.  If  such  staunch 
Tories  as  old  Ned  Seymour  will  join  us,  'twill  be  good-bye  to 
the  Stuart  dynasty." 

"  The  sooner  the  better,"  said  I. 

At  this  point  a  wave  of  enthusiasm  swept  over  my  lord. 
'Twas  not  unnatural,  for  hour  by  hour  the  Dutchman's  standard 
covered  a  larger  throng,  whilst  James's  host  just  as  surely 
diminished.  As  we  arrived  at  the  entrance,  the  guard 
promptly  barred  the  way  with  their  muskets. 

"  The  word,  gentlemen  ?  "  asked  the  sergeant. 

"  London  and  Luther,"  whispered  the  earl. 

On  the  instant  the  muskets  were  drawn  back,  the  whole  com- 
pany saluted,  and  one  of  its  number  ushered  us  across  the  hall 
to  a  large  ante-room.  'Twas  crowded  with  a  brilliant  assem- 
blage of  men  of  all  ages,  nine  out  of  every  ten  of  whom  bore  the 
unmistakable  aspect  of  the  soldier.  Yet  there  was  not  the 
least  trace  of  levity,  gayety,  or  frivolity  about  it.  It  was  split 
up  into  many  little  groups,  each  of  which  emitted  a  buzz  of 
low-toned,  animated  conversation,  and  this,  combined  with  the 
grave  demeanor  of  all  present,  clearly  showed  that  some  big 
event  had  happened. 

"  Hast  heard  the  news,  my  lord  ?  "  cried  half  a  dozen  cava- 
liers excitedly,  at  the  sight  of  my  illustrious  companion. 

My  lord  shook  his  head. 

"  The  King  hath  arrived  at  Salisbury  this  forenoon,"  was  the 
information  proffered. 

"  Excellent !  "  replied  Danby  warmly ;  "  I  trow,  gentlemen, 
we  shall  soon  have  our  swords  out  of  the  scabbards." 

This  warlike  sentiment  delivered,  we  lost  no  time  in  making 
our  way  to  the  far  end  of  the  apartment,  where  a  solitary  indi- 
vidual was  discovered  beside  a  curtained  doorway.  He  was  a 
small  portly  man,  clad  Dutch  fashion,  in  Low  Country  knee- 
breeches,  and  with  a  broad  white  collar  round  his  throat. 

"  Is  His  Highness  engaged  ?  "  queried  my  lord  of  this  person. 

"  Yes." 

"  With  whom  ?  " 

"  The  merechal  and  the  chaplain." 


378  M/STXESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

"  Well,  do  you  go  and  tell  him,  Van  der  Kempt,  that  I  am  here, 
concerning  our  conversation  this  morning." 

The  little  man  did  as  he  was  bidden.  And  now  numberless 
qualms  and  tremors  took  hold  of  me.  Sure  I  cannot  say 
whether  'twas  the  mere  prospect  of  going  into  the  great  man's 
presence,  or  the  sense  of  his  majesty,  or  the  ice  of  his  demean- 
or that  was  responsible  for  this  unworthy  feeling,  but  certain 
it  is,  I  felt  very  miserable,  wretched,  unheroic,  and  dejected. 
In  half  a  minute  the  Dutchman  returned,  and  I  could  have 
wished  that  his  alacrity  had  been  less,  for  I  was  in  no  hurry  to 
make  my  bow  to  the  Prince  of  Orange. 

"  Please  wait  a  minute,  my  lord,  then  I  will  announce  you," 
he  said. 

Here  the  curtained  door  opened  again,  and  two  men,  Burnet 
the  chaplain,  and  Merechal  Schomberg,  came  forth  together. 
Directly  afterwards  Van  der  Kempt  led  the  way  through  that 
same  door,  and  as  he  did  so,  my  lord,  with  a  backward  glance 
at  the  departing  twain,  whispered — 

"  One  is  too  nice,  and  t'other  too  garrulous  for  our  business." 

Another  curtained  door  was  opened,  and  as  we  passed  through, 
it  appeared  to  me  as  though  my  heart  was  taking  unwarrantable 
liberties  with  my  ribs.  The  apartment  was  small  and  simply 
but  tastefully  draped  and  furnished. 

The  Prince,  with  two  elbows  on  the  table,  was  leaning  over 
a  chart  and  tracing  a  line  thereon  with  his  finger.  He  did  not 
glance  up  when  my  lord  and  I  were  announced,  but  continued 
his  occupation  till  Van  der  Kempt  closed  the  door  and  retired. 
Thereupon  His  Highness  interrogated  my  companion. 

"  Well,"  he  asked,  "  and  who  is  that  gentleman  ?  " 

He  stared  at  me  with  such  directness  that  I  must  have  taken 
it  for  rudeness  in  another. 

"  Allow  me,  your  highness,  to  introduce  him.  Then  per- 
chance you  may  the  better  understand  our  visit  at  an  hour  so 
untimely." 

Thereupon  he  gave  the  Prince  almost  word  for  word  the 
narrative  I  in  turn  had  given  him,  nor  did  he  forget  to  add  my 
assurance  that  I  was  willing  to  do  aught  for  the  cause. 
The  Dutchman  nodded  his  head,  and  methought  I  caught  a 
softened  look  in  his  taciturn  countenance. 

"  Tell  Van  der  Kempt,"  said  he,  "  not  to  disturb  us  for  half 
an  hour." 

I  slipped  out  of  the  room  and  informed  the  attendant.  When 
I  came  back,  Danby  and  the  Prince  were  talking  together  in 
whispers,  one  each  side  the  table,  their  heads  nearly  touching 


THE  AUDIENCE.  379 

in  the  middle  of  it.  They  spoke  so  low  I  could  not  gather  a 
word  they  uttered.  Neither  had  I  any  desire  to  do,  but  simply 
stood  bolt  upright  twirling  my  hat  in  my  ringers.  After  five 
minutes  of  this  their  heads  parted,  and  the  Prince  shot  a  ques- 
tion at  me. 

"  How  is  it,  sir,  you  are  willing  to  risk,  and  have  risked  so 
much  for  our  cause  ?  'Tis  not  religion." 

He  looked  at  me  with  his  keen  eyes  as  though  he  would  read 
every  thought  in  my  heart.  How  did  he  know  'twas  not  re- 
ligion ?  Nevertheless  he  was  indubitably  right. 

"  I  have  suffered,  your  highness,"  I  replied,  marvelling  at 
mine  own  hardihood,  for  my  tone  was  a  much  stronger  one  than 
I  thought  possible  to  employ  before  him. 

He  raised  his  dark  brows. 

"  How?" 

At  that  question  I  banished  unworthy  qualms,  and  I  told  him 
every  word  of  my  downfall,  but  not  of  my  sins.  I  suppressed 
them,  yet  I  briefly  sketched  my  early  misfortunes  of  the  year 
'85.  Somehow  though  I  scarce  paused  to  collect  my  breath  or 
to  weigh  and  turn  my  speech,  the  words  formed  into  proper 
order  and  fell  from  my  mouth  distinctly,  whilst  my  two  august 
auditors  ne'er  lost  a  word  of  the  recital.  Having  finished,  I 
took  breath  and  stood  regarding  the  Prince  with  anxiety.  His 
brows  relaxed  ever  so  little,  a  line  in  his  mouth  appeared  less 
harsh,  and  there  was  less  sharpness  about  his  tone  as  he  turned 
to  Danby,  saying — 

"  You  have  done  very  well,"  and  then  turning  to  me  remarked, 
"  I  believe  you,  Sir  Edward." 

I  started  to  hear  my  title  so  suddenly  applied,  and  from  the 
lips  of  such  a  man. 

He  saw  that  start,  ay,  he  saw  it,  and  with  coolness  asked, 
"  How  does  it  feel,  Sir  Edward  ?  "  He  inflated  his  voice  ever 
so  slightly  on  the  "  Sir,"  and  there  was  a  biting  tinge  of  irony 
in  his  tone.  This  cut  me  deeply,  so  deeply  that  I  flushed 
crimson.  And  he  saw  that,  too,  for  he  quietly  stroked  his  chin, 
and  without  the  ghost  of  a  smile  added,  "  Well,  well ! "  and  bid 
me  come  close  up  to  the  table. 

"  Sir  Edward,"  quoth  he,  "  you  will  be  useful ;  "  but  I  never 
replied.  I  was  hurt  by  his  mode  of  treating  me.  His  veiled 
sarcasm  set  me  on  my  mettle,  and  as  my  spirit  rose  I  forgot 
my  qualms  and  nervousness.  Therefore  my  only  answer  was 
to  keep  my  head  erect,  and  to  peer  hard  and  straight  into 
his  discerning  eyes.  They  met  mine,  and  I  am  happy  to  say 
I  neither  quailed  nor  flinched.  Thereat  he  stroked  his  chin, 


380  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIX. 

repeated  the  words  "Well,  well !  "  and  continued  to  look  very 
grim. 

All  this  time  Danby  had  been  busy  with  his  pen.  However, 
no  sooner  had  the  Prince  finished  speaking  to  me,  than  the 
earl  handed  him  a  sheet  of  paper  half  covered  with  writing. 
His  Highness  read  it  carefully  through,  nodded  his  head  approv- 
ingly, sealed  it  with  his  own  hands,  and  gave  it  into  my  custody. 
At  the  same  time  he  presented  me  with  a  second  document 
(unsealed)  and  a  purse  of  gold.  Still  he  gave  me  no  instruc- 
tions, and  though  this  continued  to  keep  me  anxious  as  ever 
as  to  what  was  required  of  me,  I  was  mighty  thankful  to  leave 
his  presence.  Truth  to  tell,  I  was  awed  by  him,  and  was  afraid 
of  him  into  the  bargain.  He  seemed  so  calm,  so  strong,  and 
so  emotionless.  His  icy  demeanor  froze  my  blood,  and  added 
a  tinge  of  hatred  to  my  fear.  Yet  I  knew  quite  well  that  I  had 
conversed  that  night  with  a  leader  of  men  and  a  maker  of 
nations. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 
THE   ENEMY'S   CAMP. 

FORTUNATELY  for  my  peace  of  mind,  my  patron  did  not  keep 
me  long  in  doubt  as  to  what  my  mission  was.  Upon  emerging 
from  the  Deanery,  at  my  lord's  suggestion  we  walked  leisurely 
round  the  town,  so  that  we  might  talk  undisturbed. 

"  Thou  art  a  lucky  fellow,"  my  lord  began,  "  thou'rt  still  very 
young,  but  art  already  on  the  highway  to  fortune.  I  was  doubt- 
ful at  first  whether  the  Prince  would  trust  you  in  this  important 
matter,  yet  he  hath  seen  fit  to  do  so  ;  and  he  is  seldom  deceived 
in  any  man.  Verily,  my  friend,  you  have  great  opportunities, 
you  are  young  and  bold,  and  have  a  head  and  a  sword,  and 
William  trusts  you.  And  his  confidence,  let  me  tell  you,  is  not 
to  be  the  least  esteemed.  Now  listen  to  your  instructions,  for 
this  is  the  mission  entrusted  to  you." 

I  strained  my  ears,  and  felt  unduly  excited  as  the  earl  began. 

"  My  lord  Churchill  hath  been  appointed  the  King's  Lieu- 
tenant-general, and  is  now  quartered  together  with  His  Majesty 
and  the  Army  at  Salisbury.  You  are  required  to  deliver  this 
sealed  missive  into  my  lord's  hands.  Mind,  it  must  be  done 
secretly  and  carefully.  And  the  risks  you  run  are  great,  as  you 
will  be  obliged  to  penetrate  into  the  midst  of  the  enemy's  camp. 
This  letter  is  signed  by  myself,  and  remember  you  have  come 


THE  ENEMY'S  CAMP.  381 

from  me  only.  His  Highness  must  not  be  known  in  this  affair. 
Recollect  then  not  to  mention  his  name.  There  is  a  matter 
contained  in  the  letter  which  will  require  the  co-operation  of 
Churchill  and  yourself,  and  you  are  to  carry  the  matter  out  as 
well  as  you  can  between  you.  My  lord  will  give  you  full  par- 
ticulars of  what  is  required,  yet  I  do  not  exaggerate  when  I 
say  success  will  assure  your  fortune,  and  the  termination  of  the 
campaign." 

"  And  what  of  this  paper  of  the  Prince's,  my  lord?  "  I  asked, 
doubting  the  veracity  of  my  hearing  faculties. 

"  Friend,  His  Highness  hath  foreseen  much,  and  hath  there- 
fore provided  you  with  money.  As  for  the  document  he  hath 
given  you,  it  is  a  blank  order  for  a  company  of  men  as  large  as 
you  may  deem  necessary,  to  assist  you  in  the  enterprise.  It  is 
imperative  that  you  should  see  Churchill  at  nightfall  to-morrow, 
therefore  you  must  set  out  betimes  in  the  morning.  Personally, 
my  friend,  I  would  advise  you  to  take  a  score  of  picked  men 
along  with  you.  You  must  have  your  company  hidden  away  in 
one  of  the  villages  just  beyond  the  outposts,  while  you  go  alone 
into  Salisbury  and  confer  with  my  lord.  You  cannot  be  too 
careful  in  the  execution  of  every  detail,  and  do  not  forget  what 
I  have  said  already — success  means  your  fortune,  and  certain 
victory  for  our  cause." 

To  expedite  matters  my  companion,  who  was  singularly  eager 
over  the  whole  affair,  went  round  to  the  officers'  apartments  at  a 
house  behind  the  Deanery,  and  arranged  with  Colonel  Mackay  to 
have  twenty  picked  men,  well  armed,  well  fed,  and  well  mounted, 
to  await  me  at  daybreak  in  the  morning  beside  the  east  gate  of 
the  city. 

Danby  did  not  fail  to  thoroughly  impress  again  upon  me  the 
immense  honor  and  confidence  that  had  been  placed  in  me,  and 
begged,  if  only  for  his  sake,  that  I  might  show  myself  not  un- 
worthy of  it.  Though  the  entirety  of  this  enterprise  was  not 
revealed  to  me,  I  was  continually  reminded  that  it  was  one  great 
enough  to  startle  the  three  kingdoms.  I  longed  for  the  morn- 
ing, that  I  might  go  forth  and  prove  myself.  I  craved  for 
success,  for  you  can  well  understand  what  it  would  mean  to  me. 
Albeit,  despite  the  fevered  workings  of  my  brain,  whenever  my 
mind  returned  to  the  cold,  calm,  freezing  Prince  of  Orange,  I 
felt  suddenly  chilled.  And  as  I  thought  of  that  man  I  made 
up  my  mind  come  what  might,  I  would  sooner  lose  my  life  than 
acknowledge  defeat  to  him.  Of  course  there  was  another  I 
thought  of  too  ;  one  who  had  said,  "  Go  forth  and  win,  and  then 
come  back  to  me. " 


382  MIS  TKL  SS  D  OK  O  TH  Y  MA  R  VIN. 

Yes,  I  would  go  and  win  !  I  would  set  the  kingdom  on  fire 
with  my  celebrity.  I  would  extort  a  word  of  praise  from  the 
Prince,  I  would  kindle  a  magnificent  light  in  my  darling's  eyes  ! 

I  was  too  eager  and  excited  to  swallow  much  breakfast,  and 
before  the  first  streak  of  daylight  had  silvered  the  sky  I  stepped 
out  into  the  inn  yard.  The  first  sight  that  confronted  me  was 
my  lord  Danby,  ready  to  start  with  half  a  dozen  outriders  on 
his  journey  to  the  north.  Still,  he  had  not  forgotten  me.  No, 
he  certainly  had  not,  for  there  was  a  beautiful  and  fleet  sorrel 
mare  ready  saddled  for  my  use ;  and  'twas  due  to  my  lord  that 
the  animal  had  been  placed  at  my  service,  in  lieu  of  great 
Gustavus,  who  was  assisting  the  conveyance  of  the  transports. 

"  Sir  Edward,"  quoth  Danby,  as  I  was  about  to  ride  away 
after  profusely  thanking  him,  "I  go  north  to  light  a  beacon,  do 
I  not  ?  but  you  go  east  to  fire  the  kingdom.  I  trust  you  ;  the 
Prince  trusts  you ;  and  I  would  I  were  younger  and  less  known 
to  my  enemies,  for  then  I  would  go  along  with  you.  You  will 
ne'er  leave  my  thoughts  all  the  way  to  York.  Thy  hand,  friend, 
and  also  put  thine  ear  to  my  mouth.  I  did  not  tell  thee  the 
precise  nature  of  thy  mission  last  night,  else  thou  wouldst  not 
have  slept.  It  is  to  bring  King  James  a  prisoner  to  Prince 
William  at  Exeter.  Thy  hand  again,  Sir  Edward  ;  then  go,  and 
God  speed  you  !  " 

Next  moment  my  mare's  hoofs  were  clattering  over  the 
stones,  bound  for  the  east  gate,  and  her  rider  was  trembling  in 
his  saddle.  I  could  still  feel  the  hot  grip  of  the  earl's  thin 
hands,  I  could  still  hear  his  voice,  and  that  of  the  Prince,  our 
master.  And  they  had  both  addressed  me  as  "  Sir  Edward." 

The  troopers  were  waiting  as  I  rode  up,  and  within  two 
minutes  of  my  arrival  we  were  following  the  road  to  Salisbury 
to  fetch  the  King.  The  white  frost  lay  everywhere,  and  imparted 
a  soothing  chilliness  to  the  air.  The  hills  and  bare  hedgerows 
were  bedecked  in  this  raiment  of  winter,  and  the  roads  lay  hard 
as  flint  at  our  feet.  There  was  no  sign  of  war  in  the  land; 
everywhere  was  peace  and  serene  beauty.  By  and  by  the  red 
winter  sun  appeared,  and  for  miles  the  hoar  frost  glistened  and 
sparkled.  Nature  was  glorious  that  day,  and  the  cold  breeze 
sent  the  blood  of  healthy  creatures  a-swirling  through  the 
veins,  and  set  a  keen  glow  in  their  cheeks.  Yet  two  great 
armies  were  lying  watching  each  other,  less  than  a  hundred 
miles  apart,  like  foxhounds  in  a  leash,  straining  and  crouching, 
each  ready  for  a  spring. 

The  lovely  west  countryside  was  to  be  bathed  in  blood  once 
more,  and  as  I  looked  at  the  landscape  my  heart  did  ache  to 


THE  ENEMY'S  CAMP.  383 

think  of  it.  Then  it  flashed  upon  me  what  I  was  about  to  com- 
pass ;  and,  surely,  if  I  succeeded  there  would  be  an  end  of  the 
matter.  And  it  hath  since  occurred  to  me  many  a  time  that  the 
most  important  man  in  all  England  that  frosty  morning,  was 
neither  King  James  nor  Prince  William,  but  Ned  Armstrong, 
robber  and  outlaw. 

But  now  was  not  the  time  for  dreaming.  A  tremendous  and 
terrible  work  lay  before  me,  and  it  soon  dawned  upon  my 
understanding  that  nature  had  never  made  me  for  such  mighty 
enterprises.  A  man  at  such  puissant  moments  as  this  should 
be  keen-witted,  cool  and  collected.  Yet  here  was  I,  trembling 
all  the  way  I  went.  Albeit,  'twas  not  fear,  nor  the  risk  to  my 
neck,  but  the  bare  idea  of  the  appalling  task  before  me.  How- 
ever, one  circumstance  gave  me  hope,  and  a  certain  amount  of 
confidence.  My  lord  Churchill  had  many  brains,  and  was 
sworn  to  the  cause.  Thus  with  an  ally  so  powerful  I  might 
hope  for  the  best.  Howbeit,  the  demands  for  the  present  were 
caution  and  courage. 

Every  step  took  our  little  cavalcade  nearer  the  enemy  ;  and  I 
was  its  sole  leader.  All  the  way  I  had  my  mind  anchored  to 
one  thing.  It  was  my  beacon,  my  guiding  star,  my  hope  of  life  ; 
and  that  was — success.  Two  things  told  much  in  my  favor. 
I  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  country  I  had  to  pass 
through  ;  and  also  had  concentrated  every  ounce  of  my  intelli- 
gence on  this  supreme  adventure.  And  when  a  man  hath  so 
summoned  all  his  mental  resources,  they  cannot  be  of  much 
quality  if  something  creditable  doth  not  accrue  for  their  efforts. 
I  neglected  no  single  opportunity  so  far  as  lay  in  my  power.  I 
was  bent  on  success,  and  success  I  would  have,  though  I  spilt 
every  drop  of  my  blood  to  procure  it. 

Acting  according  to  the  earl's  orders,  it  was  imperative  I 
should  myself  reach  Salisbury  that  night ;  but  eighty  miles  is  a 
most  arduous  day's  journey.  We  pushed  on  and  on,  always 
well-nigh  at  the  top  of  our  speed.  My  soldiers  shook  their 
heads  at  this  rate  of  progress,  and  the  oldest  man  of  the  com- 
pany ventured  to  remonstrate  with  me,  saying  that  if  we  had  to 
travel  far  the  horses  would  be  spent  in  a  very  short  time.  How- 
ever, I  knew  mine  own  business  best,  which  I  was  not  slow  to 
prove  to  their  satisfaction,  for  after  a  smart  burst  we  came  to 
Ilminster  with  tired  horses.  And  then,  whilst  the  troopers  ate 
a  mouthful  of  food,  I  sought  the  landlord  of  the  inn  at  which 
we  halted,  and  struck  a  bargain.  I  paid  the  man  ten  pounds  to 
procure  me  twenty-one  fresh,  speedy  horses  (if  so  many  were  to 
be  had  in  the  place).  As  security  for  their  proper  return,  I  left 


384  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

our  own  jaded  beasts,  all  excellent  animals,  in  his  keeping,  and 
promised  him  more  money  when  we  came  back  and  resumed 
their  possession.  I  strictly  enjoined  him  to  look  to  them  well, 
and  to  have  them  prepared  for  our  use  at  a  moment's  notice. 
Herein  lay  wisdom,  for  methought  it  not  unlikely  that  we  might 
be  hotly  pursued  on  our  backward  course.  In  that  event  we 
should  have  a  fresh  relay  awaiting  us.  'Twill  thus  be  seen  this 
plan  answered  two  purposes  :  it  enabled  us  to  advance  and 
retreat  with  greater  expedition. 

When  my  small  command  came  forth,  after  a  quarter  of  an 
hour's  halt,  and  discovered  a  fresh  lot  of  animals  r»ady  saddled 
awaiting  them,  I  went  up  at  a  bound  in  their  esteem.  For  mine 
own  part  the  only  refreshment  I  partook  of  here  was  a  crust  and 
a  mug  of  ate.  I  was  too  eager  and  anxious  to  do  justice  to  any 
more  substantial  meal.  'Twas  think  and  fast  with  me  all  that 
day.  I  neither  spared  my  head  nor  my  body  in  the  service.  I 
was  playing  for  a  huge  stake,  and,  Heaven  knows,  I  did  all  that 
flesh  and  blood  could  do  to  win  it. 

Upon  pressing  forward  again  after  this  short  halt,  we  soon 
began  to  ride  into  real  danger  ;  and  'twas  then  that  my  wits  were 
needed.  We  rapidly  approached  the  King's  army.  As  we 
neared  the  Wiltshire  borders,  I  inquired  rigorously  at  every 
little  wayside  hamlet  as  to  the  whereabouts  of  the  enemy.  Fort- 
une certainly  favored  me  in  this  matter,  for  I  found  the  peasant 
folk  heart  and  soul  for  the  Prince,  therefore  they  imparted  all 
they  knew. 

Leaving  Wincanton  on  the  left,  we  crossed  into  Dorsetshire ; 
a  little  later  and  we  were  traversing  the  Wiltshire  roads.  'Twas 
in  this  county  that  King  James  and  his  host  were  lying,  thus  I 
felt  that  the  crisis  was  at  hand.  The  surrounding  hills  were 
now  settling  into  gloom,  the  cold,  November  sun  had  already 
retired  behind  them,  and  the  shadows  were  creeping  along  the 
valleys,  whence  I  knew  that  night  and  the  enemy  would  prevent 
much  farther  progress. 

We  tarried  at  a  small  inn  at  the  village  of  Hindon  to  make 
new  inquiries,  whereupon  we  learned  that  an  outpost  lay  at 
Warminster,  a  town  eight  miles  distant,  whither  Kirke  and 
Trelawney  were  posted  with  four  regiments  of  Irish.  No  trav- 
ellers were  staying  at  this  little  hostel,  so  by  means  of  a  guinea 
mine  host  was  prevailed  upon  to  harbor  our  company  for  the 
night,  and  to  hold  a  discreet  tongue  in  his  head.  But  for  me 
the  day's  work  was  only  beginning,  and  to  carry  it  properly 
through  I  had  recourse  to  sheer  boldness,  which  more  often  suc- 
ceeds than  it  fails. 


THE  ENEMY'S  CAMP.  385 

I  had  had  the  forethought  not  to  don  the  Prince's  uniform 
upon  starting  from  Exeter,  therefore  I  was  able  to  pass  toler- 
ably well  as  a  Catholic  gentleman  who  had  hastened  from  his 
country  home  provided  with  a  letter  of  introduction  to  my  lord 
Churchill,  Lieut.-general  of  the  army,  that  he  might  receive  an 
appointment  therein  to  fight  for  his  religion.  Accordingly  I 
gave  my  horse  a  short  rest,  took  a  pull  at  some  strong  water,  to 
keep  out  the  cold,  and  then  set  out  in  the  darkness  for  the 
Stuart's  headquarters. 

At  ordinary  times  'twould  have  been  a  cold  and  weary  journey 
in  the  cheerless  night,  yet  now  I  snapped  my  teeth  upon  a 
determination  to  brave  all  weariness  and  danger ;  and  Danby's 
missive  in  my  pocket,  I  urged  my  horse  briskly  forward  along 
the  bleak  and  wintry  roads  under  the  winking  stars.  I  evaded 
the  enemy's  outposts,  and  thereby  escaped  interrogation.  Hav- 
ing some  knowledge  of  the  country  hereabouts,  I  pursued  my 
way  along  the  by-paths  till  at  last  the  lights  of  the  city  were 
twinkling  ahead. 

As  I  neared  the  town  my  heart  began  to  beat  quicker  than  its 
custom  was,  yet  I  still  went  forward,  fully  determined  that  only 
prison  bars  should  prevent  me  seeing  Churchill  that  night.  I 
rode  without  hindrance  into  the  city,  for,  as  I  was  soon  to  dis- 
cover, the  military  order  was  of  the  poorest.  I  entered  with 
outward  confidence  the  first  inn  I  came  to  within  the  town. 
Having  inquired  of  a  roystering  crew,  half  English  and  half 
Irish  soldiers,  I  was  directed  to  the  Bishop's  Palace  (the  King's 
headquarters)  as  being  the  most  likely  place  to  find  my  lord. 
Thereupon  I  wended  my  way  thither,  having  first  procured  a 
lodging  for  my  horse  the  while. 

'Twas  a  large  building,  with  a  spacious  interior,  yet  'twas 
nought  near  so  crowded  as  the  Deanery  at  Exeter,  and  the 
cause  of  this  required  little  seeking,  seeing  that  the  Stuart's 
popularity  was  waning  day  by  day,  and  his  deserters  mostly 
found  their  way  to  the  Prince. 

Fortunately  Churchill  was  still  there,  and  to  my  near  pleasure, 
upon  preferring  a  request  for  a  private  interview  on  the  ground 
of  "  important  business,"  an  attendant  forthwith  went  in  search 
of  my  lord.  He  came  back  in  a  moment,  and  conducted  me  to 
an  empty  apartment,  which,  though  small,  was  warm  and  well 
lighted.  Thus  far  matters  had  prospered  far  beyond  hope  or 
expectation ;  indeed,  the  place  seemed  quite  devoid  of  military 
order  and  precaution. 

Presently  my  lord  appeared.  He  was  richly  attired,  and  I 
have  rarely  seen  a  man  with  more  beauty  of  countenance  or 


386  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

carriage.  He  looked  me  rover  every  whit  as  keenly  as  when  I 
had  encountered  him  in  London ;  then  showed  he  had  a  rare 
faculty  for  remembering  faces  by  recalling  mine  with  a  start  of 
surprise. 

"  You  are  over  bold,  young  sir." 

"  These  are  bold  times,  my  lord,"  I  answered,  handing  the 
letter  into  his  custody. 

"  Body  o'  me  !  the  most  daring  letter-carrier  I  know.' 

He  broke  the  seals  quickly,  and  read  the  missive.  His  eyes 
dilated  as  he  scanned  it ;  his  handsome  face  flushed;  and  then 
he  walked  the  room  in  uncontrollable  excitement. 

"  By  Heaven,  it  is  a  great  scheme  !  "  he  exclaimed  at  last, 
banging  his  fist  a  tremendous  thump  on  the  little  table. 

Forthwith  he  scanned  me  again  from  head  to  heels  with  a 
strange  glare  in  his  eyes. 

"  Friend,  I  presume  you  know  the  contents  of  this  letter  ?  " 

"  I  do,  my  lord,"  I  replied,  striving  hard  to  make  a  show  of 
calmness. 

"  And  you  know  what  you  and  I  between  us  are  to  essay  ? " 

"  Certainly,  my  lord." 

In  great  agitation  of  mind  he  quickly  secured  the  door,  and 
turned  up  the  lamp  to  its  fullest  light ;  and  all  the  while  I  could 
see  his  white  hands  trembling.  First  he  told  me  he  implicitly 
trusted  me.  He  said  he  had  every  reason  to  do  so,  as  he  had 
already  a  knowledge  of  my  daring  and  shrewdness.  However, 
far  above  all  personal  observation,  my  Lord  Danby  had  seen  fit 
to  confide  so  great  a  mission  to  me.  Thus  it  was  Churchill, 
with  the  scantiest  parley,  bid  me  assist  him  in  devising  a  scheme 
— a  scheme  to  kidnap  the  King !  Were  I  a  boastful  man,  I 
might  enlarge  at  length  on  the  strange  hour  I  passed  with  the 
most  brilliant  military  genius  of  his  time.  First  he  asked  what 
assistance  I  could  render  him. 

"  My  lord,  I  have  a  score  stout  fellows,  well  armed  and  well 
mounted,  lying  at  Hindon,  under  my  orders ;  also,  I  have  a  re- 
lay of  horses  in  readiness  at  Ilminister  for  the  return  journey 
to  Exeter." 

"  Good ! " 

Then  he  became  pensive,  stroked  his  lips  and  wig,  and  after- 
wards communed  half  aloud  with  himself. 

"  Let  me  see,  there's  Cartwright  at  Wilton.  No,  that's  too 
near.  There's  Williams  at  Heytesbury,  and  he's  too  thick- 
headed. No,  he'll  not  do.  H'm  !  and  there's  Kirke  at  War- 
minster ;  yes,  there's  Kirke  at  Warminster.  Zounds,  that  settles 
it!" 


THE  ENEMY'S  CAMP.  387 

He  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  began  pacing  up  and  down  once 
more.  With  the  growing  of  his  excitement  mine  also  increased. 
Shortly  afterwards  he  unfastened  the  door,  and  called  out  to  a 
soldier  hard  by — 

"  Go  seek  Colonel  Kirke ;  and  if  he  is  anywhere  to  be  found, 
tell  him  to  come  hither  to  me  on  the  instant." 

Meanwhile  I  had  casually  glanced  at  the  open  letter  on  the 
table.  Perchance  this  did  not  become  me  then,  neither  doth  it 
any  more  become  me  now  to  set  forth  one  clause  which  caught 
my  eye,  and  every  word  of  which  I  still  remember.  It  ran, 
"  Should  this  affair  be  executed  in  a  proper  and  fitting  manner, 
I  have  no  doubt  His  Highness  will  wot  of  a  dukedom  ready  for 
disposal."  Since  that  hour  my  respect  and  admiration  for  the 
famed  Duke  of  Marlborough  hath  ever  been  less  than  that 
borne  towards  him  by  my  fellow-men. 

Presently  the  door  opened,  and  a  big,  swart,  fierce-looking 
man,  in  an  ostentatious  uniform,  entered. 

"Good  evening,  Colonel  Kirke,"  was  my  lord's  greeting. 
"  You  have  not  forgotten  our  converse  of  the  other  day  ? 
Friend,  the  time  to  act  hath  now  arrived." 

The  colonel  started,  and  cast  a  look  of  inquiry  towards  me. 
I  was  at  this  moment  in  the  company  of'  the  "  Tangiers 
Butcher,"  one  of  the  biggest  of  traitors  and  the  hardest-hearted 
of  men  that  was  ever  endowed  with  life.  Yet  'twas  neither  the 
time  nor  the  place  to  cherish  private  sentiments,  nor  have  I  the 
inclination  to  air  them  now. 

In  a  few  words  my  lord  informed  the  soldier  what  had  to  be 
done.  Upon  recovering  from  the  first  shock  of  his  surprise,  he 
and  his  superior  laid  their  heads  together  to  devise  a  plan, 
whilst  I  waited  with  ill-concealed  anxiety  and  impatience  for 
the  result  of  their  deliberations.  They  carried  on  a  low-toned 
conversation  for  the  best  part  of  half  an  hour ;  and  the  out- 
come was  that  Churchill  suddenly  exclaimed — 

"  Verily,  colonel,  thou  hast  solved  the  riddle — that  is,  if  thou 
art  quite  sure  of  Trelawney.  Come  with  me  and  impress  the 
King  with  the  extreme  urgency  of  the  matter.  And  you,  sir, 
wait  quietly  here  till  we  return,  when  we  will  lay  a  definite 
proposal  before  you." 

Thereafter  the  pair  of  conspirators  went  out  together  to  seek 
an  interview  with  the  King.  I  marvelled  much  at  the  audacity 
of  these  two  traitors  ;  had  I  been  in  their  position  I  could  not 
have  met  the  man  I  was  betraying  with  the  eye  o"f  innocence. 

In  the  course  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour  they  returned  to  me, 


388  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

and  relocked  the  door  after  them.     My  lord  spoke,  and  I  list- 
ened eagerly  to  each  word  he  uttered. 

"  D'ye  know  the  little  town  of  Warminster  ?  " 

"  Yes,  my  lord." 

"  And  Bugley  village  ? " 

"  Yes,  my  lord." 

"  There  is  one  hostel  in  the  place  called  the  Wheat  Sheaf. 
You  and  your  men  are  -to  be  there  at  noon  to-morrow.  His 
Majesty  is  to  review  the  troops  at  Warminster,  and  will  then 
proceed  with  myself  and  Colonels  Kirke  and  Trelawney,  and  a 
company  of  six  chosen  men  to  reconnoitre  and  examine  the 
country  as  far  as  Bugley,  which  is  two  miles  away.  We  shall 
call  at  the  Wheat  Sheaf  for  a  drink  of  cider.  Have  your  horses 
in  good  condition  for  a  speedy  flight,  and  keep  them  and  your 
men  concealed  from  the  roadway.  There  will  be  a  resistance 
offered,  so  have  your  pistols  primed,  with  which  shoot  down 
the  soldiers.  I  and  the  two  colonels  will  endeavor  to  drag  His 
Majesty  outside  to  the  horses,  but  of  course  we  shall  be  out- 
numbered and  overpowered.  Now  do  not  fail  to  have  your 
men  there  before  noon  to-morrow.  You  will  be  in  no  danger 
of  discovery,  as  it  shall  be  looked  to  that  you  are  not  disturbed 
by  our  troops.  You  understand,  I  hope.  Be  cautious  and 
speedy,  and  we  shall  have  our  man  under  lock  and  key  this 
time  to-morrow." 

I  told  my  lord  I  understood  perfectly.  The  scheme  was 
wondrous  simple,  indeed,  almost  too  simple  it  looked  at  first, 
seeing  how  great  the  idea  was,  and  what  would  be  its  outcome. 
Yet  its  simplicity  was  easy  of  explanation.  The  misguided 
Stuart,  cold  wretch  as  he  was,  was  the  most  unsuspicious  of 
men.  He  had  at  this  time  the  sublimest  confidence  in  Churchill, 
his  right-hand  man,  and  chief  adviser.  His  eyes  had  yet  to  be 
opened  concerning  that  arch  traitor,  and  the  cool-headed  rogue 
profited  by  the  blindness  of  his  master.  And  though  I  knew 
all  this,  I  did  not  feel  the  least  pity  for  my  father's  murderer, 
neither  had  I  regrets  or  scruples  for  the  work  I  was  myself 
encompassing.  They  tell  us  "all  is  fair  in  love  and  war/' 
whilst  with  me  vengeance  was  an  even  greater  stimulant  than 
either  of  them.  Accordingly,  my  conscience  was  not  sufficient- 
ly delicate  to  give  me  any  twinge  of  compunction,  and  I  now 
say  without  shame,  that  even  in  my  old  age  it  has  not  taught 
me  to  feel  it  anent  this  matter. 

'Twas  after  nine  of  the  clock  ere  I  set  out  for  Hindon.  I 
returned  thither  without  misadventure,  never  being  once  chal- 
lenged within  the  city,  for  the  army  was  far  too  busy  wine- 


THE  ENEMY'S  CAMP.  389 

guzzling  and  dicing  to  pay  heed  to  a  young  man  of  four- 
and-twenty,  who  held  the  future  of  the  kingdom  in  the  hollow 
of  his  hand. 

That  return  journey  to  Hindon  seemed  a  wild  dream.  What 
would  William  say,  and  how  would  he  look  when  I  rode  in 
with  the  King  ?  What  would  Danby  say  ?  W7hat  would  the 
Nation  say?  What  would  Mistress  Dorothy  say?  And  be  it 
distinctly  understood,  she  was  of  far  greater  account  than  the 
Nation,  Prince  William,  and  the  Earl  of  Danby  united.  I  could 
scarce  realize  my  splendid  fortune.  The  plan  was  so  simple 
and  certain  of  success,  that  methought  nought  could  balk  it. 

I  reached  Hindon  in  safety,  and  found  my  men  had  been  un- 
disturbed, since  none  of  the  enemy  had  appeared,  as  the  out- 
posts lay  more  to  the  north.  I  did  not  breathe  a  word  of  the 
mission  upon  which  we  were  engaged  to  the  company.  Still 
they  obeyed  me  in  every  particular,  for  the  army  had  been 
thoroughly  taught  that  finest  of  military  virtues — obedience  to 
superior  officers.  There  is  one  thing  I  recollect  doing  that 
night  that  stands  boldly  out  in  my  memory.  Perhaps  it  was 
foolish  in  me  to  sit  on  the  edge  of  my  bed  for  an  hour  gazing 
at  the  portrait  of  my  darling;  wondering  what  the  morrow  had 
in  store.  Howbeit  this  veracious  history  bids  me  recount  e'en 
so  slight  a  circumstance. 

Next  morning  I  looked  to  it  that  the  horses  were  well  fed, 
and  that  the  men  made  a  hearty  breakfast.  Then  at  a  steady 
pace,  and  with  extreme  vigilance  for  lurking  enemies,  we  left 
the  quiet  hamlet  of  Hindon,  and  made  our  way  northward  in 
the  direction  of  Warminster.  The  frost  still  held,  and  travelling 
was  by  no  means  irksome,  despite  the  nipping  morning  air. 
Avoiding  the  main  highways  (the  enemy  occupying  much  of 
the  countryside  hereabouts),  we  skirted  Great  Ridge  Wood  and 
Brixton  Deverill,  and  within  half  an  hour  of  the  appointed 
time  were  snugly  ensconced  in  the  parlor  of  the  Wheat  Sheaf 
at  Bugley.  This  is  a  point  nearly  twenty-five  miles  west  of 
Salisbury  and  two  miles  from  Warminster.  I  stationed  two  of 
my  troopers  to  hold  the  horses  in  the  inn  yard ;  who  were 
made  ready  for  immediate  service,  that  there  might  be  no  delay 
upon  the  arrival  of  the  conspirators  and  their  victim.  Then  I 
enlightened  my  men  in  a  measure  in  regard  to  the  meditated 
trepanning.  Certainly  I  mentioned  no  names,  but  fully  in- 
structed each  man  as  to  the  nature  of  his*  duties,  and  saw  to  it 
that  his  firearm  was  properly  loaded  for  instant  use,  if  necessary. 

As  the  appointed  hour  drew  near,  my  eagerness  and  excite- 
ment became  intensified.  Twelve  o'clock  midday  chimed  at  the 


39° 


MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 


little  church  across  the  road;  and  every  sound  of  the  clock  sent 
a  thrill  through  me.  At  any  moment  now  they  might  arrive, 
therefore  I  stationed  a  man  on  foot  in  the  middle  of  the  road 
to  keep  a  sharp  look-out  up  the  highway,  and  bade  him  in- 
stantly come  and  advise  me  when  the  ten  horsemen  hove  in 
sight.  Half  an  hour  went  by,  and  though  they  were  doubtless 
approaching,  I  fervently  hoped  their  coming  would  not  long  be 
delayed,  for  'twas  a  great  strain  on  my  nerves.  One  o'clock 
struck  at  the  rustic  church,  still  the  man  in  the  road  made  no 
sign.  I  hurried  out  to  look  for  myself,  tho'  my  anxiety  went 
for  nought.  The  bare,  white  road,  wound  ahead  without  a 
speck  upon  it  as  far  as  the  eye  might  scan. 

I  returned  indoors  and  tossed  off  a  cup  of  mulled  Hollands, 
for  now  I  felt  my  courage  to  be  steadily  drooping.  Two  o'clock 
sounded,  whereat  I  grew  more  uneasy.  I  went  outside  again, 
and  strained  my  eyes  on  the  track,  yet  'twas  still  one  long  streak 
of  white.  I  now  ordered  relief  for  the  man  in  the  roadway  and 
the  men  with  the  horses.  I  was  growing  strangely  nervous. 
Three  o'clock  sounded.  By  this  an  ugly  foreboding  had  taken 
the  place  of  hope  and  triumph.  The  rogue  on  the  look-out 
could  offer  no  consolation,  and  the  minutes  still  continued 
monotonously  to  flee.  I  walked  up  and  down  dolefully,  and 
even  more  anxiously  than  my  lord  had  done  the  night  before. 
What  did  it  all  mean  ?  And  the  stern  countenance  of  Prince 
William  was  beginning  to  rise  in  my  brain. 

Presently  the  sun  began  to  sink,  and  my  heart  with  it.  What 
could  have  happened  ?  Churchill  had  certainly  said  noon  at 
the  Wheat  Sheaf,  Bugley.  I  became  frightened  and  more 
restless  ;  and  my  heart  sank  lower.  Must  I  go  back  and  tell 
William  I  had  failed  ?  I  dared  not.  How  I  feared  that  man  ! 
I  waited  till  my  spirit  was  sore  with  vexation.  Still  the  man 
in  the  road  could  offer  no  consolation,  and  the  wintry  sun  was 
waning,  ever  waning,  but  no  King,  no  Churchill,  and  no  news  ! 
I  paced  about  the  road  in  a  fever  of  agitation,  and  clutched 
miserably  at  my  hair,  for  His  Highness,  icy  and  cold,  was  be- 
fore me.  Now  I  was  beginning  to  hear  his  voice  whispering  in 
my  ears.  This  hallucination  chilled  my  blood.  Why  did  they 
not  come  ?  Why  should  I  be  thus  balked  of  my  reward  when 
the  plans  had  been  laid  so  skilfully,  and  success  had  been  so 
certain?  'Twas  maddening  to  tarry  thus  with  the  gray  of  the 
twilight  creeping  on,  shadowlike,  ghostlike,  with  the  night  so 
fast  approaching,  and  with  the  frost-laden  air  getting  keener 
and  more  piercing  as  the  moments  passed. 

In  desperation  I  sought  refuge  in  another  mug  of  Hollands. 


THE  AFFAIR  AT  THE  WHEAT  SHEAF,  BUG  LEY.      391 

Yet  still  the  shadows  were  closing  in,  and  there  was  no  cavalcade 
of  ten,  no  Churchill,  no  King,  and  no  glory  !  I  stamped  my  feet 
hnpotently,  worked  myself  into  an  unavailing  rage,  and  let  forth 
a  stream  of  oaths.  Then  the  night  wind  came  rustling  among 
the  naked  hedgerows  and  moaned  sadly  over  the  bare  and 
silent  plain,  whilst  the  white  length  of  road  became  gradually 
blurred  and  indistinct.  The  maid  of  the  inn  was  just  bringing 
lighted  candles  .(for  the  dusk  was  growing  deeper)  when  the 
watcher  outside  came  running  in,  crying, "  They're  coming, 
captain  !  " 

I  ran  outside,  and  peered  eagerly  into  the  gloom.  The  click 
of  hoofs  sounded  clear  to  my  ears,  and  I  could  plainly  see  a 
body  of  horsemen  fast  approaching. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

THE  AFFAIR  AT  THE    WHEAT  SHEAF,  BUGLEY. 

AT  last  the  time  had  come.  I  rushed  round  to  the  yard  ;  the 
men  still  held  the  horses.  1  gave  a  hasty  glance  at  the  animals, 
and  saw  they  were  all  in  readiness.  Next  I  returned  indoors, 
and  as  I  did  so  could  hear  the  coming  cavalcade  so  plainly  that 
their  talk  was  distinctly  audible  above  the  harsh  music  of  their 
horses'  feet.  Instantly  my  men  were  alive  and  eager. 

A  hubbub  arose  outside,  in  which  stamping  hoofs,  champing 
bits,  and  many  voices  were  intermingled.  It  struck  me  that 
this  company  of  ten  was  showing  a  very  small  respect  for  its 
King,  to  judge  by  the  noise  it  made.  The  outer  door  was 
pushed  open,  and  a  crowd  of  soldiers  came  scrambling  in,  tread- 
ing on  the  heels  of  one  another  in  their  haste. 

"Quick,  my  lass,  a  pint  of  ale  for  me!  We  ain't  much  time 

to  tarry,  and  its  mighty  co "  "  Hey,  wench  !  a  pint  for  me, 

and —  "  Prithee,  good  mistress,  a  flagon  o'  sack " 

"  Quick  wi'  a  black  jack  of  October,  wench  !  " 

4i  Peace,  gentlemen  !  I  cannot  serve  ye  altogether,"  quoth 
the  girl  with  a  pout. 

This  cold  crew  were  not  those  I  had  expected  ;  though  'twas 
evident  they  belonged  to  the  King.  Suddenly  one  of  them  took 
notice  of  us,  and  cried  out  at  the  pitch  of  his  lungs — 

"  Holy  Virgin  !  those  are  Dutch  Bill's  Hollanders !  " 

A  mighty  exclamation  made  the  rafters  echo,  and  the  fellows 
came  crowding  round  us.  'Twas  a  desperate  situation  ;  at  such 


392  M '/STRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

moments  a  man  may  be  pardoned  many  things.  They  instantly 
prepared  to  arrest  us.  To  judge  by  the  babel  'twas  a  whole 
regiment  that  had  arrived.  Our  pieces  were  loaded,  so  I  gave 
the  word  to  fire,  and  then  to  charge.  Seventeen  pistols  cried 
out  together;  the  little  room  was  choked  with  smoke,  and  the 
doorway  was  hideously  cleared.  The  smoking  weapons  were 
discarded,  and,  sword  in  hand,  my  band  made  for  the  door, 
striding  over  and  trampling  on  prostrate  forms  in  our  progress. 
The  press  being  very  thick  outside,  a  fierce  struggle  ensued, 
and  blows  and  cries  were  everywhere.  With  our  blades  we 
hewed  vigorously,  and  in  two  minutes  a  dozen  of  us  had  sprang 
into  the  saddle  and  were  spurring  for  dear  life  out  of  the  hos- 
telry yard,  down  the  road  to  westward  over  the  Somersetshire 
border.  We  fled  with  a  loose  rein,  yet  soon  our  enemies  were 
in  full  cry  after  us.  However,  we  had  a  good  start,  and  the 
horses  being  fresh  and  the  darkness  rapidly  advancing,  we  had 
not  many  fears  as  to  our  ultimate  escape.  W7e  were  now  thir- 
teen in  all.  Thus  it  will  be  understood  eight  of  our  number 
had  failed  to  make  their  way  to  the  yard,  and  had  either  been 
struck  down  or  captured. 

Ere  long  the  pursuit  ceased,  but  the  enemy  being  now  ap- 
prised of  our  presence,  there  was  nought  else  for  us  to  do  but 
to  return  to  William's  camp.  By  the  aid  of  the  moon  we  rode 
all  night,  through  Frome,  and  by  way  of  Glastonbury  and  Somer- 
ton  to  Ilminster.  Arrived  there,  we  knocked  up  the  grumbling 
landlord.  Very  soon  we  resumed  the  possession  of  our  own 
steeds,  and  they  being  fresh  and  well  cared  for,  bore  us  towards 
Exeter  at  a  sprightly  pace. 

Oppressed,  stricken,  and  defeated,  I  sate  listlessly  in  the  sad- 
dle, my  thoughts  of  the  bitterest.  Thus  had  ended  all  the 
dreams  of  glory  and  success.  I  sank  my  head  on  my  breast  in 
despair.  God  knows  I  had  done  everything  within  my  power. 
I  had  left  no  stone  unturned  ;  I  had  striven  to  provide  against 
every  possibility  ;  I  had  not  spared  myself  or  my  command  ;  I 
had  pushed  on  without  tarrying.  I  had  seen  and  arranged  with 
my  lord,  he  had  passed  his  word  that  every  plan  was  complete, 
and  here  I  was  flying  beaten  before  the  King  with  the  mission 
unfulfilled,  and  nearly  half  my  men  left  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  'Twas  bitter !  bitter !  How  to  face  the  Prince  after 
such  a  woeful  ending  I  knew  not,  nor  did  I  dare  to  think.  How 
I  feared  the  man  !  I  grew  ominous  once  more  at  the  thoughts 
of  my  forthcoming  interview,  and  shuddered  at  what  was  in 
store.  That  icy  countenance,  that  demanding  eye ;  how  I 
dreaded  them  !  Yet,  even  in  this  hour  of  defeat  and  desolation, 


THE  AFFAIR  A  7"  THE  WHEAT  SHEAF,  BUGLE Y.      393 

I  bethought  myself  of  the  portrait  I  bore  in  my  breast-pocket, 
and,  under  cover  of  the  darkness,  I  drew  it  forth  and  kissed  the 
face  it  bore.  I  tried  very  hard  to  be  as  brave  as  my  mistress 
was,  but  was  wholly  unsuccessful.  Again  that  iceberg  of  a  man, 
the  Prince  of  Orange,  came  into  my  mind.  And  at  his  appari- 
tion the  fear  of  him  completely  overwhelmed  me.  Then  it  was  I 
knew  my  old  fortitude,  endurance,  and  courage  had  deserted  me, 
and  that  God  had  set  the  seal  of  a  broken  man  upon  my  spirit. 

Half  frozen  with  the  severity  of  the  weather,  we  came  to 
Axminster  towards  eight  of  the  clock  in  the  morning.  Here  a 
surprise  awaited  us.  We  had  only  reached  the  outskirts  of  the 
town,  when  a  body  of  our  troops  pulled  us  up  curtly  and  de- 
manded our  business.  From  them  we  learned  that  the  Prince 
had  marched  out  of  Exeter  the  previous  day,  and  was  now 
lying  in  and  around  Axminster,  having  left  his  headquarters 
strongly  garrisoned,  under  the  command  of  Sir  Edward  Sey- 
mour. Soon  I  was  to  hear  something  to  disquiet  me.  'Twas 
that  His  Highness  had  already  inquired  for  me,  and  had  given 
orders  that  I  must  repair  to  him  as  so&n  as  I  arrived.  There- 
fore I  had  no  alternative,  other  than  to  go  and  give  an  account 
of  my  dismal  failure.  Straightway  I  made  for  the  Prince's 
headquarters.  He  was  stationed  at  the  principal  inn  in  the 
town.  I  set  out  thither,  without  even  stopping  to  souse  my 
face,  or  to  brush  my  coat,  or  to  thaw  my  limbs;  being  desper- 
ately anxious  to  get  the  interview  done  with.  It  almost  mad- 
dened me  to  brood  on  it,  and  to  conjecture  what  the  result 
would  be.  Van  der  Kempt  was  in  attendance  outside  the  door 
as  usual. 

"I  am  glad  you  have  come,"  he  said.  "  His  Highness  hath 
already  inquired  thrice  for  you." 

This  did  not  tend  to  reassure  me.  At  that  moment  I  bitterly 
repented  having  told  so  much  to  Danby.  Then  I  should  not 
have  had  this  ill-fated  enterprise  entrusted  to  me,  and  the  nau- 
seous pill  of  defeat  to  swallow.  Van  der  Kempt  ushered  me 
in.  I  strove  hard  to  pluck  up  spirit  and  smarten  my  dejected 
bearing. 

As  I  stepped  into  the  apartment  I  caught  a  full  view  of  my- 
self in  a  large  mirror  opposite  the  door  and  I  gave  a  start  as  I 
did  so.  My  person  was  a  mass  of  glistening  hoar  frost,  my 
face  was  pale  and  worn  and  haggard,  and  a  dark  stain  of  blood 
ran  from  my  forehead  to  my  jaw,  the  presence  of  which  I  was 
now  aware  of  for  the  first  time.  -  'Twill  thus  be  seen  my  ap- 
pearance accorded  very  ill  indeed  with  the  presence  of  the 
Prince  my  master. 


394  MISTRESS  DOKOTHY  MARVIN. 

His  Highness  was  seated  at  a  table  facing  the  doorway,  and 
had  a  huge  mass  of  papers  and  a  map  before  him.  He  looked 
up  as  I  entered,  and  presented  me  with  a  stony  stare. 

"Well?" 

"  Your  highness,  er — I — I — I've " 

"  Failed  ! "  he  inserted  icily,  then  gave  me  another  blood- 
chilling  stare.  Said  he,  "  Sir  Edward,  I  require  a  verbal  ac- 
count. And  don't  stammer.  It  jars  on  my  nerves." 

By  some  means  I  told  him  all,  tho'  I  can  never  say  how. 
Perchance  it  was  because  my  finger-nails  bit  into  the  flesh,  be- 
cause my  head  was  singing,  or  because  I  had  the  hot  ache  in 
my  toes.  Anyway,  I  told  him  everything — everything,  even  to 
Churchill's  excitement  and  mine  own,  and  how  I  had  left  eight 
troopers  behind  with  the  enemy.  He  listened  immovable. 
When  I  had  uttered  the  last  word,  I  folded  my  arms  over  my 
fluttering  heart,  and  prepared  for  the  worst.  What  would  it  be  ? 
How  I  feared  that  stoical  wretch  !  How  I  feared  that  ice-cold 
Dutchman,  and  how  I  hated  him  !  He  said  nothing.  He  did 
not  even  glance  at  me  again.  He  simply  turned  to  his  docu- 
ments, seized  a  pen,  and  began  to  write,  his  countenance  in- 
scrutable, but  very  acid.  He  did  not  dismiss  me.  He  did  not 
bid  me  tarry.  He  kept  me  standing  there  miserable,  dejected, 
pale,  bleeding,  with  a  whirling  head  and  frozen  feet,  yet  still 
he  wrote  in  silence.  Once  more  I  fell  to  twirling  my  hat.  At 
last  his  pen  ceased.  He  looked  up  quickly  and  regarded  me. 
My  teeth  set  with  a  snap. 

"  Come  hither,  Sir  Edward,"  quoth  he  quietly. 

I  did  as  I  was  bidden,  and  as  I  approached  him  I  felt  the 
power  of  speech  come  back. 

"  Your  highness,"  said  I,  in  a  low  tone,  "  I  have  done  my 
best.  More  than  that  no  man  can  do.  Methinks  Providence 
hath  been  against  me." 

I  looked  at  him  doggedly,  sullenly,  and  thought  myself  an 
ill-used  man.  As  for  the  Prince,  he  returned  my  gaze,  with  a 
cynical  turn  of  the  lip;  then  handed  me  the  paper  he  had  writ- 
ten, and  commanded  me  to  read  it.  I  did  so,  and  emotion 
nearly  mastered  me  in  the  mean  time ;  'twas  a  captain's  com- 
mission and  an  appointment  as  one  of  his  aides-de-camp. 

"You  are  a  brave  man,  and  r  like  brave  men,"  said  the 
Prince  softly. 

"  Your  highness —  "  I  gasped,  with  notable  lack  of  breath. 
I  got  no  farther. 

"Tut,  Sir  Edward,  that  will  do.  Go  to  bed  and  dream  of 
your  baronetcy.  You  are  excused  from  duty  to-day." 


THE  NIGHT  RIDE  TO  LONDON. 


395 


He  smiled  as  he  said  these  last  words,  and  as  I  left  him, 
tho'  I  was  not  precisely  sure  whether  I  employed  my  head  or 
my  heels  to  walk  with,  I  felt  exquisitely  proud  of  myself,  and 
took  out  again  the  portrait,  and  passed  delightful  moments  in 
anticipating  how  my  great-spirited  mistress  would  thrill  with 
the  news. 

After  some  hunting  about  I  found  a  bed  of  warm  straw  in 
a  farmer's  hayloft.  First  I  procured  quills,  ink,  and  paper ; 
penned  a  tremendous  epistle  to  Dorothy,  then  flung  myself 
down  amongst  the  straw,  and  slept  for  ten  hours.  Yet  I  dis- 
obeyed His  Highness,  for  I  dreamt  of  nothing  at  all;  nay,  not 
even  of  his  smile. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

THE    NIGHT   RIDE   TO    LONDON. 

THE  Prince  remained  several  days  i'n  his  present  quarters, 
and  was  well  advised  in  so  doing.  King  James  was  eager  to 
fight  for  the  excellent  reason  that  every  day  his  own  supporters 
dwindled,  and  his  opponent's  increased.  However,  William 
would  not  risk  a  battle  with  matters  going  so  favorably ;  hence 
waited,  but  with  the  shrewdest  eye,  for  passing  events. 

Two  days  after  my  second  interview  with  the  Prince,  a  mes- 
senger came  riding  into  the  camp  post-haste  from  the  north, 
and  brought  the  news  that  my  lord  Danby  had  succeeded  much 
better  than  I  had.  He  had  lighted  the  beacon  as  he  promised 
he  would  ;  he  had  surprised  the  garrison  at  York,  had  disarmed 
it,  and  was  now  in  possession  of  the  city.  A  rebellion  had 
risen  in  the  north,  and  was  rapidly  spreading  to  the  Midlands. 
When  this  news  became  known  in  our  camp,  there  was  scarce 
aught  else  to  be  seen,  but  smiling  faces;  indeed,  the  cause  was 
prospering  beyond  expectation.  As  for  me,  the  soreness  be- 
gotten by  my  late  misfortune  wore  gradually  away.  His  High- 
ness had  much  astonished  me  by  his  behavior,  and  'twas  par- 
ticularly congenial  astonishment.  Wherefore  I  admired  him 
more,  and  hated  him  less ;  tho'  I  was  sadly  puzzled  in  mind  as 
to  why  I  had  failed,  I  could  not  bring  my  mind  to  believe  that 
Churchill  had  wittingly  played  me  false. 

Upon  the  morning  of  the  twenty-fifth  of  November,  all 
doubts  were  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  dispelled.  I  was  in 
the  room  next  the  Prince's  apartment,  which  had  been  formed 
into  a  kind  of  ante-room  for  the  use  of  the  officers.  Accord- 


396  M1STJRESS  DOKOTHY  MARVIN. 

ingly  I,  having  already  assumed  my  new  dignities,  was  ensconced 
herein,  when  a  gentleman  in  the  King's  uniform  entered  with 
hot  haste,  and  inquired  for  His  Highness.  A  hum  of  amaze- 
ment ran  through  the  crowded  assembly,  since  the  new-comer 
was  none  other  than  Churchill  himself  in  riding-dress.  He 
bowed  with  his  usual  charming  grace  to  the  company,  and  was 
then  conducted  to  the  Prince.  Meanwhile  all  of  us  eagerly 
speculated  on  what  had  brought  him  hither.  Mayhap  I  was 
not  so  surprised  at  his  coming  as  some  of  my  comrades  were, 
for  methinks  no  man  in  the  kingdom  was  better  able  to  gauge 
the  dark  depths  of  the  man's  heart  than  myself.  My  lord  and 
the  Prince  were  closeted  together  for  half  an  hour  in  private, 
and  then  the  faithful  Van  der  Kempt  threaded  his  way  through 
the  throng  and  touched  my  shoulder. 

"  His  Highness  wishes  a  moment's  speech  with  you,  captain." 

I  gave  an  exclamation  of  surprise,  yet  followed  at  his  heels 
on  the  instant.  I  discovered  the  Prince  and  the  soldier  deep 
in  conversation.  Churchill,  without  any  ado,  smilingly  offered 
me  his  hand.  And  I,  being  loth  to  accept  it,  he  said — 

"  Confess,  friend,  thou  art  ruffled  with  me.  You  do  me  grievous 
injustice.  'Twas  the  hand  of  Providence  that  was  the  marplot; 
and,  let  me  tell  you,  John  Churchill  is  no  match  for  Providence." 

My  heart  went  out  to  the  fellow  in  spite  of  myself.  .He  was 
so  frank,  and  genial,  and  spoke  with  such  easy  grace,  that  I 
accepted  his  hand.  It  appeared  another  mission  was  waiting 
for  me,  and  'twas  for  that  reason  I  had  been  summoned.  Wil- 
liam was  as  glum,  silent,  and  icy  as  ever,  though  his  latest 
friend  was  all  smiles  and  affability.  The  Prince  it  was,  how- 
ever, who  gave  me  the  orders,  in  a  pointed  and  precise  manner. 

"  Captain  Armstrong,"  he  said.  "  You  will  not  tarry  another 
hour,  but  must  ride  post-haste  to  London.  The  Princess  Anne, 
whom  I  am  assured  is  very  well  affected  towards  our  enter- 
prise, must  be  conveyed  from  Whitehall  at  once.  Her  father, 
the  King,  is  already  in  retreat,  and  may  contemplate  evil 
towards  Her  Highness  if  she  be  not  put  out  of  his  reach.  You 
will  therefore  start  with  all  speed,  and  get  her  away  before  her 
father  arrives,  as  he  hath  heard  of  the  state  of  her  mind,  and  is 
very  wroth  thereat.  Here  is  another  purse  for  your  expenses 
by  the  way,  and,  also,  I  give  you  leave  of  absence  till  our  army 
arrives  in  London.  And,  my  friend,  you  will  not  have  to  wait 
long  for  its  arrival." 

Those  last  words  he  spoke  with  the  clearest  confidence. 
'Twas  not  boastfulness.  'Twas  merely  the  faith  he  possessed 
in  his  own  ability  and  that  of  his  command.  I  was  in  the 


THE  NIGHT  RIDE  TO  LONDON.  397 

presence  of  this  great  man  several  times,  yet  on  no  occasion 
was  I  so  much  impressed  with  his  self-reliance  as  on  this  one. 
I  made  preparations  to  set  off  at  once  on  my  journey,  tho',  ere 
I  started,  I  held  a  short  conversation  with  two  persons ;  and 
they  were  my  lord  Churchill  and  Tobe  Hancock. 

Ye  have  heard,  kinsmen,  of  Providence,  and  similar  vague 
matters.  And,  certainly,  what  my  lord  had  to  say  in  his  own 
defence  savored  very  strongly  of  its  mysteries.  However,  it 
appeared  that  his  statement,  strange  as  it  was,  did  not  overstep 
the  bounds  of  truth,  and  it  hath  since  passed  into  history.  It 
seemed  that  at  the  very  moment  King  James  was  stepping  into 
his  coach  to  review  his  troops  at  Warminster  (as  Churchill  had 
promised  me  he  should),  he  was  suddenly  seized  with  a  violent 
bleeding  at  the  nose,  which  prevented  him  from  setting  forth. 
This  hemorrhage  lasted  three  days,  and  thus  completely  baffled 
the  designs  of  Ned  Armstrong,  Danby,  Prince  William,  and 
those  arch-traitors,  Kirke  and  lord  Churchill.  I  was  loth  to 
believe  this  singular  story  at  first,  but  ere  long  it  was  amply 
corroborated. 

As  for  Tobe,  I  had  seen  little  of  him  of  late ;  therefore  I 
snatched  a  moment  with  him  before  starting.  I  confided  my 
horses  to  his  care,  for,  as  I  was  going  to  ride  at  such  a  pace  to 
London,  I  should  be  obliged  to  change  horses  several  times 
upon  the  way,  and  I  was  unwilling  to  trust  my  steeds  to 
the  tender  mercies  of  roadside  hostelries.  The  blacksmith  at 
once  fell  foul  of  my  new  mission,  as  he  had  done  of  my  former 
one.  He  declared  that  the  cause  would  not  in  any  wise  be  ben- 
fited  by  such  "  hole-and-corner  work."  He  had  come  to  fight 
for  his  religion,  and  that  being  so,  no  amount  of  argument 
could  convince  him  that  he  would  be  doing  his  duty  to  the 
cause  by  trepanning  kings,  or  placing  princesses  out  of  danger. 

I  rode  to  Town  as  though  the  devil  pursued  me.  I  stopped 
only  to  gulp  food  occasionally,  and  to  obtain  a  fresh  horse  to 
speed  me  on  the  journey.  I  had  failed  already  in  one  en- 
terprise entrusted  to  me  by  His  Highness,  but  please  God,  I 
would  prove  myself  on  this  occasion.  In  my  desperate  anxiety 
to  be  of  service  to  him  in  this  latest  affair,  I  ne'er  thought  of 
fatigue  or  the  frailties  of  the  human  body.  I  rode  all  day,  and 
all  night,  till  my  coat  was  flecked  with  horses'  foam,  and  my 
legs  were  so  stiff  that  I  could  scarce  put  them  to  the  ground 
without  an  exclamation,  though  in  former  days  I  had  spent 
hours  in  the  saddle,  and  was  a  practised  horseman.  I  set  out  at 
midday  on  the  Twenty-Fifth,  and  twenty-six  hours  later  was  in 
the  streets  of  London. 
26 


398  MfSTXESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

Alas,  I  had  come  too  late  to  be  of  service  !  The  Princess 
had  fled  (none  knew  whither),  between  midnight  and  dawn  that 
morning.  'Twas  a  bitter  reflection  when  I  heard  this  news,  to 
think  what  I  had  gone  through,  only  to  fail  again.  Verily  the 
fates  were  set  against  me,  and  once  more  my  heart  drooped 
when  thus  confronted  with  my  non-success.  And  'twas  all  the 
harder  to  bear,  as  J  considered  I  did  not  deserve  such  harsh  usage. 

I  say  that  none  knew  whither  the  Princess  had  fled.  Never- 
theless absurd  rumors  were  rife.  Some  of  the  ignorant  stoutly 
maintained  she  had  not  fled  at  all,  but  had  been  decoyed 
away,  and  murdered  by  the  bloody  papists.  These  wretches 
were  considered  capable  of  every  crime  under  the  sun,  and 
were  treated  accordingly.  Never  in  the  whole  history  of  our 
land  had  the  popular  mind  been  so  incensed  against  the 
Romanists.  Their  lives  and  property  were  not  worth  a 
moment's  purchase.  Men  called  down  curses  upon  the  hapless 
creatures,  spat  upon  them,  threatened  them,  robbed  them,  beat 
them,  and  generally  maltreated  them  in  the  most  inexcusable 
manner. 

However,  before  the  day  was  out,  it  was  known  for  certain 
that  Anne  had  gone  of  her  own  accord,  nt  the  earnest  counsel 
of  Sarah,  Lady  Churchill,  her  trusted  friend  and  adviser,  and  was 
now  fleeing  northward,  in  high  dread  of  her  father's  anger  at 
her  treachery  towards  him.  She  was  accompanied  by  my  lord 
Dorset,  and,  to  the  profound  astonishment  and  scandal  of  all 
zealous  churchmen,  by  Bishop  Compton  who  held  the  diocese  of 
London.  And  this  spiritual  lord,  not  content  with  lending  the 
episcopal  presence  to  the  affair,  had  actually  sported  riding- 
boots  and  a  buff  coat,  not  to  speak  of  pistols  and  a  sword, 
for  the  occasion  ;  a  proceeding  which  for  long  afterwards 
gave  great  offence  to  the  sober-minded,  and  associated  the  most 
calumnious  of  stories  with  the  name  of  his  reverence.  I  was 
bitterly  disappointed  at  this  latest  turn  of  events.  So,  dis- 
gusted with  myself,  the  world,  and  my  luck  of  life,  I  wended 
my  way  to  good  Master  Fletcher's  at  the  Three  Crowns,  where 
a  rapturous  welcome  awaited  me  (or  my  guineas).  In  no  time 
a  hearty  meal  was  laid  before  me.  This  was  done  ample 
justice  to  ;  the  unfortunate  Ned  Armstrong  having  tasted  but 
the  smallest  portion  of  food  during  his  journey. 

With  my  legs  somewhat  eased  by  the  rest,  I  determined  to 
take  a  stroll  in  the  streets  before  going  to  bed,  as  my  head  was 
not  calm  enough  to  entertain  sleep. 

An  unlucky  chance  led  me  to  the  vicinity  of  Whitehall  Palace. 
'Twas  growing  dusk,  and  a  mob  was  assembling  round  the 


THE  HAND  OF  GOD.  399 

gates.  I  inquired  the  reason  of  this,  whereupon  I  was  told  the 
retreating,  defeated  monarch  was  expected,  and,  to  judge  by 
the  lively  epithets  employed,  those  assembled  had  no  sympathy 
for  him  or  his  misfortunes.  Neither  had  I ;  yet  I  lingered 
anxiously  awaiting  his  arrival — the  arrival  of  my  father's 
murderer  !  A  cruel  joy  seized  me  to  know  that  this  man  was 
coming  from  the  seat  of  war  crushed,  and  fleeing  from  his 
enemies.  I  had  no  mercy  ;  but  gloated  over  the  misfortunes  of 
the  heartless  wretch  James  Stuart.  He  had  had  no  compassion 
for  hundreds  of  his  noble  misguided  subjects,  and,  now  he  was 
in  need  of  theirs,  'twas  very  rightly  denied  him.  Aye,  the  time 
was  fast  coming  for  which  I  had  longed  and  prayed.  I  did  not 
forget  my  hellish  oath  ;  I  did  not  forget  my  father's  death  ;  I  did 
not  forget  the  hideous  courthouse  ;  1  did  not  forget  the  first  night 
of  exile.  I  felt  the  devil  rising  in  my  heart ;  and  one  fierce 
triumphant  throb  as  I  waited  for  the  stricken  wretch — the 
great  man  who  had  fallen.  And  all  the  while  the  crowd  in- 
creased till  a  mighty  concourse  surged  about  the  palace  gates. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

THE    HAND   OF   GOD. 

SUDDENLY  the  crowd  struck  up  Lillibullero.*  A  brawny 
rogue,  with  a  villainous  squint,  who  stood  by  my  elbow,  bellowed 
horridly  in  my  ear — 

"  O  den,  broder  Teague,  dost  hear  de  decree, 

Lilli  bullero,  bullen  a  lah  ! 
Dat  we  shall  have  a  new  deputie? 

Lilli  bullero,  bullen  a  lah  ! 

Lero,  lero,  lilli  bullero,  lero,  lero,  bullen  a  lah  ! 
Lero,  lero,  lilli  bullero,  lero,  lero,  bullen  a  lah  I  " 

*  The  editor  appends  the  following  extract  from  Percy's  "  Reliques,"  vol. 
ii.  p.  365  :— 

"  Lillibullero,  slight  and  insignificant  as  it  may  now  seem,  had  once  a 
more  powerful  effect  than  either  the  Philippics  of  Demosthenes  or  Cicero  ; 
and  contributed  not  a  little  towards  the  great  Revolution  of  1688." 

Let  us  hear  a  contemporary  writer — 

"  A  foolish  ballad  was  made  at  that  time,  treating  the  papists  and  chiefly 
the  Irish,  in  a  very  ridiculous  manner,  which  had  a  burden,  said  to  be  Irish 
words,  '  Lero,  lero,  liliburlero,'  that  made  an  impression  on  the  (King's) 
army  that  cannot  be  imagined  by  those  that  saw  it  not.  The  whole  army, 
and  at  last  the  people,  both  in  city  and  country,  were  singing  it  perpetually, 
and  perhaps  never  had  so  slight  a  thing  GO  great  an  effect." — (Burnet.) 


400  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MAR VI A?. 

Hundreds  of  voices  caught  up  the  strange,  wild,  idiotic — 
"  Lero,  lero,  lilli  bullero,  lero,  lero,  bullen  a  lah  !  " 

Meantime,  above  the  strains  of  this  chorus — which  boded  the 
greatest  ill  to  every  papist — was  plainly  heard  the  rumbling  of 
carriage  wheels  and  the  howlings  of  the  mob  down  the  roadway. 

Who  can  forget  those  tumultuous  moments  in  the  gathering 
gloom?  The  hundreds  chanting  that  baleful  ditty ;  the  oaths, 
the  cries,  the  curses,  the  savage  joy  of  the  London  multitude. 
Then  this  pandemonium  swelled  into  one  great  roar  as  a  coach 
and  four  horses,  with  postilions  lashing  furiously,  hove  into 
sight  at  the  bend  of  the  road. 

"  The  King  !  "  shouted  the  mob,  and  another  howl  broke  forth 
from  the  midst  of  it.  However,  the  horses  burst  through  the 
press,  but  not  before  I  had  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  white  face, 
paler  than  death's,  cowering  away  from  remorseless  men. 

The  sight  of  this  mockery  of  majesty  brought  up  the  devil 
quicker  than  aught  else  could  have  done.  'Twas  the  first  time 
I  had  set  eyes  on  the  infamous  king.  My  head  began  to 
grow  tempestuous.  And  that  was  the  herald  of  coming  mad- 
ness. I  know  I  was  mad  that  night.  Why  disguise  the  fact  ? 
I  had  caught  a  glimpse  of  my  arch-enemy — the  man  who  had 
done  what  nought  could  undo.  My  limbs  had  ceased  to  ache, 
my  head  had  ceased  to  think.  My  eyes  lost  sight  of  the  crowd 
— of  everything  but  a  cowering  wretch  in  one  corner  of  a  coach, 
whose  ghastly  countenance  was  whiter  than  the  virgin  snow, 
whose  fearful  eyes  held  no  sign  of  life.  And  then  1  did  a  thing 
of  which  to  this  hour  I  am  ashamed.  Seized  by  a  sudden  gust 
of  frenzy,  I  picked  up  a  large  stone  from  the  footpath  and 
hurled  it  through  the  carriage  window.  I  do  not  think  it  struck 
the  King,  but  'twas  no  fault  of  mine  that  it  did  not  do  so.  This 
act  accorded  with  the  brutal  humor  of  the  crowd,  and  it  set  up 
a  hoarse  cheer  of  approbation.  After  this,  I  paced  the  streets 
like  an  infuriated  animal,  and  every  whit  as  pitiless  and  savage. 
I  could  not  rid  my  disordered  senses  of  the  vision  of  the  stricken 
King  cowering  before  his  subjects.  It  must  have  been  hours 
ere  I  returned  to  the  Three  Crowns  in  the  Strand.  I  do  not 
know  what  I  looked  like,  yet  am  aware  Master  Fletcher  recoiled 
from  me  as  though  I  had  been  a  wild  beast.  I  went  to  bed  by 
and  by,  though  not  till  mine  host  had  given  me  a  soothing 
potion,  else  I  should  ne'er  have  obtained  _a  wink  of  sleep. 

Next  morning  I  awoke  sensible,  but,  alas,  'twas  not  an  un- 
adulterated blessing.  Gradually  the  incidents  of  the  previous 
evening  came  back  to  my  mind,  and  the  pangs  of  remorse  they 


THE  HAND  OF  GOD-  401 

occasioned  I  do  not  care  to  dwell  upon  at  any  length.  I  had 
entertained  the  devil  aforetime,  yet  God  had  spared  me ;  and 
now,  in  gratitude,  I  had  entertained  him  again,  just  as  I  had 
begun  to  think  the  undermining  monster  had  deserted  me  for- 
ever. Besides  there  was  a  maid  down  in  Somersetshire  who 
had  said,  "  Go  forth  and  win,  and  then  come  back  to  me ! " 
Was  I  to  go  back  to  her  devil-possessed,  with  a  madman's 
heart  and  a  vengeful  soul  ?  If  I  could  have  passed  over  that 
hideous  dream  of  the  previous  night,  I  would  have  foregone 
my  expected  baronetcy  !  As  I  lay  in  bed  that  morning,  I  felt 
the  most  utterly  weak  and  unworthy  man  on  all  the  earth's 
surfaces  If  I  could  but  blot  out  last  night's  doings ;  if  I  could 
but  undo  that  cowardly  act !  I  knew  my  father  would  not 
bide  better  in  his  grave  for  what  I  had  done. 

I  rose  and  dressed  myself  and  remained  indoors  all  day,  and 
lay  mentally  snivelling  and  repentant  for  hours  over  the  hearth- 
stone. I  opine,  children,  ye  are  about  heartily  sick  of  your 
wretched  sire.  Contrition  is  cheap  coin  to  exchange  for  folly, 
and  more  especially  when  it  can  be  entertained  without  loss  of 
appetite,  for  T  grieve  to  say  I  disposed  of  three  slices  of  deer's 
meat  at  dinner-time. 

The  candles  had  been  alight  an  hour  on  the  evening  of  that 
day  of  humiliation,  when  the  parlor  door  opened  and  admitted 
a  little  man  in  a  riding-coat  and  jack-boots.  I  felt  a  thrill  of 
pleasure  ;  the  traveller  was  my  friend  Fetter  Whipple. 

"  Ods,  bud  !  "  he  exclaimed  with  a  lively  grimace  of  recogni- 
tion, "  mine  old  friend  !  What  do  you  here  ?  " 

An  explanation  followed,  and  when  mine  host  of  the  King's 
Head  had  divested  himself  of  his  riding  attire,  and  had  before 
him  his  perennial  churchwarden  and  black  jack,  a  similar  ques- 
tion was  put  on  my  part. 

"  Business,  lad,"  he  replied,  as  a  blue  puff  of  smoke  curled 
up  to  the  ceiling.  "  I  move  wi'  the  times,  d'ye  see.  Bridg- 
water  is  too  quiet  just  now.  There  is  need  for  a  man  o'  brains 
in  this  city.  These  are  the  times  when  men  wi'  headpieces 
make  fortunes.  I  have  work  to  do  here.  Before  I  go  back,  I 
doubt  not  my  purse  will  be  fatter  by  a  whole  year's  profits." 

It  was  a  real  pleasure  to  me  to  have  my  friend's  company,  as 
I  v/as  seldom  depressed  in  his  presence. 

Those  were  awful  times  in  London.  For  some  weeks  there 
was  no  real  government  or  law  in  the  city,  whereby  the  place 
was  a  veritable  inferno.  The  Stuart's  power  was  broken,  and 
in  his  palace  at  Whitehall  he  remained  crushed,  not  knowing 
whom  to  trust.  He  could  offer  no  protection  whatsoever  to  his 


402  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

papist  friends.  They  were  the  common  enemy,  and  victims  of 
the  lawless,  ay,  and  of  the  self-believing  righteous,  too.  Their 
property  was  seized,  and  its  owners  were  threatened  and  gen- 
erally maltreated  ;  their  houses  were  burnt,  and  the  law  had 
not  sufficient  power  nor  sufficient  inclination  to  protect  them. 

Pete  delivered  his  mind  on  many  matters  the  night  following 
his  arrival. 

"  Do  you  mark  my  words,  my  lad,"  he  said,  "  that  prince  o' 
thine  will  find  himself  in  a  corner  yet,  if  he  doth  not  be  very 
careful.  Men  are  flocking  to  his  standard  every  day,  and  such 
men — Jack  Presbyters,  Anabaptists,  Independents,  Churchmen, 
Tantivies,  and  the  deuce  knows  who.  'Twould  take  a  head 
like  mine  or  Bob  Bickers's  to  manage  all  that  crew.  Then  he 
hath  gotten  an  army  of  Dutchmen — and  this  country  will  ne'er 
take  kindly  to  Dutchmen.  You  say  His  Highness  is  a  rare 
strategist.  We  shall  see  that.  I  shall  be  able  to  judge  him  the 
better  in  another  fortnight." 

"  He  will  be  on  the  Throne  in  another  fortnight,"  said  I. 

"  Will  he?  Then  he'll  be  off  it  again  in  a  year.  If  this 
Dutchman  knows  his  business  (and  methinks  he  doth),  he  will 
not  seize  power  greedily.  Let  him  avoid  bloodshed,  and 
calmly  wait  till  James  takes  to  his  heels  of  his  own  accord,  and 
till  the  whole  nation  hath  begged  him  to  assume  the  crown.  If 
he  does  things  in  a  hurry,  and  shows  an  undue  eagerness,  he  is 
a  fool.  His  game  now  is  to  play  the  disinterested  benefactor  to 
the  country,  and  to  wait  awhile,  till  the  throne  is  vacant,  and  till 
he  is  invited  thereto." 

"  But,  Pete,"  I  interrupted,  "  he  is  properly  entitled  to  it." 

"  Psha  !  you  argue  like  a  woman.  Where's  the  man  who  gets 
his  deserts  ?  I'm  properly  entitled  to  a  place  in  Heaven,  but 
I'm  not  there  yet.  Besides  he  hath  a  mighty  many  friends  to- 
day who  are  friends  of  the  moment.  They're  like  Bob  Bickers 
and  my  meritorious  self,  they  go  with  the  wind.  Dutch  Bill 
must  have  no  real  fighting,  else  this  nation  will  turn  on  him. 
'Twill  ne'er  watch  its  own  men  whipped  by  a  set  o'  schnapps- 
sucking  Dutchmen.  No,  sir  ;  if  the  Prince  wants  a  firm  seat  on 
the  Throne,  let  him  coax  James  out  of  the  country,  and  then  be 
decently  and  duly  invited  to  it  by  the  voice  of  the  nation. 
That  is  the  only  way  to  wear  the  crown  securely." 

Pete  abided  close  by  his  opinions,  and  methought  them  sound 
enough.  'Twas  undoubtedly  the  course  likely  to  be  followed 
by  a  shrewd  tactician,  for  should  the  Prince  make  a  greedy  grab 
for  power,  then  most  assuredly  folks  would  set  it  down  to  his 
ambition,  and  would  mistrust  him  in  accordance.  'Twas  evident 


THE  FLIGHT  OF  JAMES  STUART.  403 

patience,  watchfulness,  and  careful  diplomacy  alone  would  be 
able  to  seat  him  firmly  on  the  Throne.  By  that  means  he  would 
gain  the  confidence  and  full  trust  of  the  country  at  large,, 
Still,  I  was  not  at  all  pleased  with  this  plan,  as  it  meant  mud? 
\veary  waiting  ere  the  great  hopes  I  cherished  could  be 
fulfilled. 


CHAPTER   XLVII. 

THE    FLIGHT  OF   JAMES   STUART. 

'TwAS  plain  that  the  Prince  had  equally  as  clear  a  perception 
of  the  situation  as  mine  host  of  the  King's  Head,  Bridgwater. 

The  King  still  remained  at  Whitehall,  tho'  every  day  his 
case  became  more  hopeless,  his  power  weakened,  and  his 
friends  left  him  in  larger  numbers,  whilst  the  populace  grew 
more  clamorous  for  William  to  mount  the  throne. 

However,  he  did  not  hurry  his  march  to  the  capital ;  but 
avoided  anything  likely  to  cause  a  conflict  between  his  army 
and  the  scattered  bodies  of  King's  troops.  The  days  went 
slowly  by ;  and  the  Prince  marched  over  Salisbury  plain,  and 
reached  Hungerford  on  the  sixth  of  December. 

There  were  several  parleyings  hereabouts  betwixt  James  and 
William,  and  from  them  it  was  plainly  seen,  by  the  patient 
manner  in  which  the  Dutchman  listened  to  his  foe,  that  he  was 
playing  the  part  of  "  benefactor  to  the  country."  Nothing  of 
much  import  was  the  outcome  of  their  talk,  but  on  the  tenth  of 
December  London  woke  to  discover  that  the  Queen  and  her 
infant  son  had  fled. 

The  next  day  I  overslept  myself ;  but  was  rudely  aroused, 
however,  by  a  slap  on  the  back  from  my  friend  Pete. 

"  Now  then,  you  slugg-ardly  varlet ! "  I  heard  him  say, 
"awake  and  hear  the  news.  King  James  hath  fled  !  " 

"  Hurrah  !  "  I  shouted,  jumping  out  of  bed  at  a  single  bound, 
and  executing  a  dance  barefoot  in  my  nightshirt. 

Albeit,  that  \vas  a  thoughtless  dance,  for  now  we  were  in  the 
throes  of  a  terrible  crisis.  London  was  at  the  mercy  of  the 
mob.  The  King  had  fled ;  the  Prince  was  miles  away  ;  and 
there  was  none  to  preserve  order.  Also  James  had  sent  orders 
to  my  lord  Feversham  to  disband  the  army.  The  night  that 
followed  was  a  truly  horrible  one,  and  hath  still  a  large  place  in 
my  memory.  As  soon  as  darkness  fell,  Master  Whipple  advised 
his  kinsman  to  bar  his  doors. 


404  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MAR 

"  If  I  am  not  mistaken,"  said  the  omniscient  Pete,  "  we  are 
to  have  such  a  time  this  night  as  we  shall  ne'er  forget." 

He  had  read  the  signs  correctly.  In  the  busy  thoroughfare 
called  the  Strand  ere  long  the  noise  of  an  immense  rabble  was 
heard.  An  hour  later  Master  Fletcher  bid  us  come  up  into 
his  top  garret,  and  climb  from  thence  through  the  skylight  onto 
the  tiled  roof  of  the  tavern.  We  did  so,  and  I  beheld  the  most 
awful  and  most  awe-inspiring  sight  I  ever  set  eyes  on.  All 
round  was  one  lurid  glare  ;  on  every  side  flames  leapt  skywards. 
Chapels,  monasteries,  mansions,  dwellings  were  on  fire,  at  the 
instance  of  the  mob,  because  these  buildings  belonged  to  the 
papists.  A  hideous  throng  was  gathered  in  the  streets;  and  we 
could  clearly  see  it  as  we  looked  down  from  our  coign  of  van- 
tage. A  wicked  company,  the  pestilential  scum  of  a  great  town, 
jostled  one  another  in  the  narrow  way,  bent  on  plunder  and 
destruction.  Thieves,  cut-purses,  ring-droppers,  money- 
changers, house-breakers,  and  the  like  were  mingled  with 
hundreds  of  foolhardy  'prentices,  as  they  paraded  the  streets 
with  the  booty.  Some  bore  an  ivory  crucifix,  others  a  piece  of 
rich  cloth,  others  a  picture,  others  rare  candelabra.  Yet  this 
was  in  one  hand  only,  for  the  other  held  a  stave  or  a  sword  ;  and 
bloody  brawls  were  rife. 

As  the  night  advanced  the  howls  of  the  mob  increased  with 
the  flames.  Casks  of  beer  and  wine  were  seized  from  private 
dwellings  and  were  broached  in  the  street  below.  'Twas  a 
loathsome  sight  to  see  the  wretches  grovel  on  their  knees  in 
pursuit  of  the  liquor,  and  gather  it  in  their  hats.  They  fought 
and  screamed,  plundered  and  sacked  all  night  through  ;  whilst 
as  the  hours  went  by  the  flames  shot  up  higher  and  higher.  On 
every  side  sparks,  smoke,  and  the  leaping  tongues  of  fire  rose 
nearer  the  sky.  The  convent  at  Clerkenwell,  and  its  rich  furni- 
ture and  treasury  of  books  were  reduced  to  ashes  ;  and  nearly 
all  Catholic  meeting-houses  had  only  four  walls  left  standing  by 
morning.  When  at  last  the  mob  had  spent  its  fury  on  these 
places,  it  turned  recklessly  on  the  mansions  of  the  foreign  am- 
bassadors. Foremost  among  these  was  that  of  the  Spanish 
minister,  Senor  Ronquillo.  His  house,  close  by  Lincoln's  Inn 
Fields,  was  burnt  to  the  ground,  his  rich  plate,  seized  by  the 
greedy  hands  of  the  multitude,  and  many  works  of  art  and 
valuables  destroyed.  Upon  the  appearance  of  daylight  the 
thousands  hied  back  again  to  their  dens,  with  the  city  a  wreck; 
leaving  in  every  street  grim  windowless  walls  blackened  and 
gaunt  as  a  testification  of  their  handiwork. 

The  day  following  this  terrible  night  must  not  be  passed 


THE  FLIGHT  OF  JAMES  STUART.  405 

lightly  over,  as  an  event  happened  in  the  course  of  it  which, 
even  now,  sets  the  blood  flowing  the  swifter  through  my  veins 
when  I  chance  to  recall  it.  Pete  and  I  were  taking  a  walk  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  Tower,  when  there  slowly  came  towards  us  a 
frantic  mob.  Men  were  fighting  and  howling  and  striving  one 
against  another  to  reach  an  object  in  its  midst.  As  it  ap- 
proached, we  could  see  it  was  a  coach  they  sought  to  attack, 
and  that  it  was  protected  by  a  large  company  of  pikemen.  The 
soldiers  marched  around  it,  and  presented  a  thick  hedge  of  steel 
points  to  the  crowd  to  keep  it  back ;  tho'  such  was  the  frenzy 
of  the  populace  that  the  foremost  of  its  members  came  near 
spitting  themselves  upon  the  steel. 

"  Poor  devil !  "  remarked  my  companion.  "  Some  other 
milk-livered  papist,  I'll  bet." 

'Twould  have  gone  hard  indeed  with  the  man,  whoever  he 
might  have  been,  had  they  got  hands  upon  him,  for  the  fighting 
throng  would  undoubtedly  have  torn  him  to  pieces.  As  it 
came  up  Pete  and  I,  curious  to  discover  the  cause  of  this  strange 
commotion,  mounted  the  highest  steps  of  a  house  beside  us,  and 
from  this  point  were  able  to  overlook  the  struggling  mass  be- 
neath. The  coach,  the  pikemen,  and  the  maniacs  passed  slowly 
by,  and  inside  the  vehicle  I  beheld  a  creature  which  made  me  a 
maniac  too.  I  could  plainly  see  a  grotesque  object,  blackened 
and  begrimed  with  coal-dust,  in  the  garb  of  a  sailor,  whose  eyes 
were  starting,  and  whose  face  was  smeared  and  bedaubed  with 
blood.  This  creature  was  imploring  the  soldiers  with  clasped 
hands  not  to  let  the  mob  get  at  him.  There  was  no  mistaking 
the  mouth  and  the  jaw  of  the  unhappy  creature.  It  was  Jeffreys  ; 
the  man  who  had  held  life  and  death  in  the  palm  of  his  hand  ; 
the  debauched,  vile  judge,  the  man  whom  all  the  nation  had 
trembled  at.  Despite  his  disguise,  despite  his  abject  terror,  he 
could  not  conceal  that  satanic  countenance.  Those  black  brows 
had  been  seen  too  often.  The  mob  had  recognized  him,  and 
the  man  beside  Peter  Whipple  also.  Taunton  courthouse  was 
rising  in  my  brain  again.  I  was  fascinated  for  a  moment ;  then 
whispered  hoarsely  to  my  friend — 

"  For  the  love  of  Heaven,  Peter,  lead  me  hence  !  Take  me 
anywhere  away  from  this." 

I  had  not  the  strength  to  move  of  mine  own  accord. 

The  innkeeper  did  not  reply  ;  only  gave  me  a  contemptuous 
glance,  and  obtained  a  powerful  hold  on  my  sleeve. 

Just  then  the  crowd  made  one  bold  sweeping  rush,  and  fought 
the  pikemen  hand  to  hand.  I  could  hear  the  screams,  the 
clash  of  arms,  the  oaths,  and  finally  a  cry  of  triumph.  The 


406  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

coach  was  rocking,  and  far  above  the  din,  a  voice,  the  arch- 
fiend's voice,  was  raised  in  supplication. 

"For  Gods  sake,  gentlemen,"  it  wailed,  "don't  let  them 
come  !  Don't,  don't !  They're  coming  !  Save  me  !  save  me  !  " 

"  Let  me  go,  Pete ! "  I  cried,  attempting  to  drag  my  arms 
free. 

The  little  man  grinned,  and  tightened  his  grip. 

"  Unhand  me,  d'ye  hear  !  It's  Jeffreys.  Hands  off,  I  say  ! 
I  must  and  will  go  and  tear  him  limb  from  limb  wi'  the 
others." 

Master  Whipple  got  his  two  hands  on  my  wrists  like  a  vice  ; 
yet  I  struggled  and  besought  and  finally  fought  him  in  my 
madness.  Still  I  could  not  free  myself.  Pete  and  I  jostled 
desperately,  but  the  crowd  pressed  on  towards  the  rocking- 
coach,  amidst  the  shrieks  of  vengeance.  A  terrific  struggle 
ensued  at  the  Tower  gates.  Albeit,  in  the  end,  the  coach  and 
the  soldiers  got  through,  and  the  yelling  multitude  was  thrust 
back,  and  was  thereby  balked  of  its  prey. 

Whereupon  Peter  Whipple  whispered,  "  You  oaf !  "  into  my 
ear,  shifted  his  devil's  grip  from  my  wrists  to  my  doublet  collar, 
and  bundled  me  back  to  the  Three  Crowns  with  the  peremp- 
tory expedition  of  a  Bow  Street  runner. 

I  felt  faint  and  sick  by  the  time  we  had  returned  to  the  inn. 
After  a  while  I  recovered  somewhat,  and  thanked  Pete  for  his 
kindly  offices.  That  night  I  told  him  my  strange  story,  whence 
he  understood  my  violence  of  the  few  hours  previous. 

So  this  was  the  second  of  my  foes  humbled  and  brought  low. 
I  cannot  tell  whether  'twas  God's  judgment ;  yet  from  that  day 
forward  I  have  ever  been  inclined  to  regard  it  as  a  Divine  mani- 
festation. 

A  few  weeks  later  my  Lord  Chief  Justice  died  in  the  greatest 
agony  of  mind  in  the  Tower.  I  will  not  dwell  upon  this  episode  ; 
if  you  have  carefully  followed  my  fortunes  thus  far  you  may 
well  understand  how  I  was  affected  by  it. 

I  doubt  not,  kinsmen,  ye  have  heard  the  story  in  its  entirety, 
as  to  how  the  monster  was  recognized  in  his  foul  disguise  in 
a  low  alehouse  at  Wapping :  how  he  was  dragged  forth  by  a 
vengeful  mob,  who  would  have  beaten  him  to  death  had  not 
some  of  the  trainbands  come  to  his  rescue;  how  he  was  brought 
before  the  Lord  Mayor ;  and  how  finally  (as  you  have  seen)  he 
was  conveyed  to  a  prison  from  which  he  ne'er  afterwards  issued 
alive. 

Another  night  of  tumult  and  riot  followed,  and  one  accom- 
panied by  a  fear  of  the  lawlessness  of  the  disbanded  Irish 


HIS  PROTESTANT  MAJESTY  KING  WILLIAM  IIL      407 

troops.  A  rumor  was  launched  just  after  nightfall  to  the 
effect  that  a  horde  of  them  were  marching  on  London,  and 
were  slaying  every  Protestant  man,  woman,  and  child  in  its 
progress.  Of  course  this  was  a  wicked  lie.  Some  mischievous 
scoundrel  had  raised  it  to  further  disturb  the  mind  of  the  popu- 
lace. 

All  night  long  the  citizens  paced  the  streets  in  patrols.  They 
were  armed  to  the  teeth,  and  were  fully  bent  on  thwarting  the 
common  foe.  However,  no  enemy  appeared. 

In  such  times  as  these  men  live  fast;  events  sufficient  for  an 
ordinary  decade  are  crowded  into  a  few  weeks ;  and  so  much 
hath  been  said  by  the  historians  (though  perhaps  without  any 
over-nice  regard  for  the  truth)  that  I  will  refer  you  to  them  for 
any  fuller  account.  I  do  but  simply  lay  before  you  those  mat- 
ters which  most  nearly  affected  myself  in  these  turbulent  times. 
Bishop  Burnet  and  Mr.  John  Oldmixon  will  tell  you  all  about 
the  politics.  I  shall  be  quite  content — nay,  shall  e'en  consider 
my  task  worthily  performed — if  I  do  but  faithfully  recount  all 
that  came  under  my  personal  observation  hereabouts,  and  for 
the  accuracy  of  which  I  myself  can  vouch.  So  much  was 
crammed  into  this  short  period  that  my  old  head  is  sadly  con- 
fused thereby,  and  so  great  a  lapse  of  time  hath  passed  since 
then  that,  should  any  small  particular  differ  from  the  printed 
accounts,  then  I  will  be  content  to  have  it  set  down  to  a  failing 
memory  sooner  than  be  involved  in  any  controversy  with  the 
chronicles  ;  not,  however,  that  I  consider  them  any  more  in- 
fallible than  mvself. 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

HIS   PROTESTANT   MAJESTY    KING    WILLIAM    III. 

As  ye  are  aware,  I  have  been  lately  discoursing  at  some 
length  upon  the  hopes,  aspirations,  and  fortunes  of  kings  and 
princes,  and  have  sadly  neglected  those  of  the  humble  Edward 
Armstrong.  But  my  tale  being  conceived  in  a  homely  key,  I 
shall  from  this  point  to  the  finish,  which  is  happily  not  far  dis- 
tant, give  Master  Ned  my  best  attention,  and  as  far  as  practi- 
cable leave  exalted  folk  to  the  historians. 

Shortly  after  the  downfall  of  Jeffreys,  I  had  a  serious  conver- 
sation with  Peter  Whipple.  I  discovered  him  alone  in  the  small 
chamber  Master  Fletcher  had  placed  at  our  service.  He  was 
seated  before  the  table  counting  golden  guineas,  and  diffidently 


4c8  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

whistling.  But  when  I  came  to  his  side,  in  immediate  prox- 
imity to  the  money,  he  suddenly  changed  his  tune,  and  with 
extraordinary  haste  gathered  up  the  gold  into  his  bag  and 
safely  deposited  the  same  into  a  pocket  of  his  coat. 

"  It  is  a  wise  man  that  knows  his  master,"  said  he  gravely. 

"  I  would  like  you  to  withdraw  your  insinuations,  Pete," 
said  I,  feeling  hurt  in  my  mind  at  his  behavior. 

"  I  insinuate  nothing,"  he  replied,  with  a  little  cough. 

"Then  why  so  insinuatingly  cautious?  " 

"  I  wasn't  born  yesterday,"  he  returned  sweetly  ;  "  methinks 
I  am  rather  old  in  the  tooth." 

"  So  you  wish  to  infer  that  your  money  is  not  safe  when  I 
am  near  it  ? " 

"  Ned,  my  friend,  you  do  me  a  wrong  in  your  heart.  I  am 
deeply  grieved.  Yet  natheless  I  am  mindful  of  a  lesson  I  once 
learnt  from  Bob  Bickers.  One  day  I  was  sitting,  just  as  1  am 
now,  counting  guineas,  when  in  he  walks,  and  says  he,  clapping 
me  on  the  shoulder  in  his  hearty  way,  '  Well,  old  friend,  and 
how  is  the  old  complaint  ? '  Then  he  shook  my  hand  as  his 
cordial  fashion  was,  and  made  himself  generally  very  affable. 
But  harkee,  lad,  when  he  was  gone  I  found  ten  guineas  minus. 
Thereupon  I  remembered  that  his  coat-sleeves  were  wide,  and 
that  his  reputation  was  just  a  trifle  blown  upon.  When  he 
came  next  time,  I  made  the  charge  direct  to  his  face.  Quoth 
he  serenely,  '  Dear  friend,  experience  hath  to  be  bought  and 
duly  paid  for ;  so  take  my  advice  and  buy  it  early.  You  pay 
the  dancing-man  to  teach  you  how  to  foot  the  minuet,  and  to 
trip  the  sprightly  corranto.  You  pay  the  musicianer  to  teach 
you  how  to  finger  the  harpsichord  and  spinet,  and  to  make 
harmonious  music,  as  Will  Shakespeare  hath  it.  Then  why  in 
the  world  can't  you  pay  the  man  who  understands  human 
nature,  to  lay  bare  the  malpractices  and  unchaste  devices  em- 
ployed by  your  fellow-creatures?'  Yes,  lad,  those  were  his 
words.  Fine,  were  they  not  ?  Still,  I  have  ne'er  seen  those 
guineas  since,  but  have  kept  the  lesson  well  in  mind." 

"  Pete,"  quoth  I  warmly,  and  fully  determined  to  set  him  for- 
ever right  concerning  a  solemn  resolution  I  had  recently  made, 
"  I  have  done  with  thieving  and  dishonesty  now.  Never  again 
will  I  stain  my  fingers  with  stolen  property." 

"  Yes,  that's  highly  correct,"  he  assented  with  a  smile.  "  But 
faith,  I  must  weep  ;  'tis  most  touching  and  pathetic  !  Indeed, 
I  am  deeply  moved.  \Vhere's  my  handkerchief  ?  'Tis  the 
devil's  own  thing  is  an  emotional  nature !  " 

He  brought  forth  his  rag,  folded  it  carefully  to  fit  his  eyes 


HIS  PROTESTANT  MAJESTY  KING  WILLIAM  III.      409 

with  decorum,  and  wept  with  such  vigor  that  all  the  while  my 
hands  did  itch  to  knock  him  down  as  flat  as  his  own  ale. 

"  I'm  not  jesting,"  said  I  shortly. 

"  And  who  said  thou  wert  ?  "  he  asked  aggrievedly  between 
his  sobs. 

Here  my  worthy  friend  brushed  his  eyes  smartly  with  his 
coat-sleeve,  gave  one  significant  gulp,  and  looked  up  with  a 
watery  smile. 

"  So  you're  going  to  start  in  a  safer  line  ? "  he  said,  then 
sank  his  voice  to  a  confidential  whisper,  and  affecting  a  cat-like 
countenance  to  match  his  purring  tone,  continued,  "  I  presume, 
my  gossip,  you  are  going  to  embrace  the  religious  business. 
I'm  afeared  'tis  not  what  it  used  to  be ;  still,  methinks  there's 
room  for  an  enterprising  man.  I've  worked  the  trade  wi'  some 
small  success  myself  in  my  early  days,  and  am  not  above  giv- 
ing a  friend  a  hint  or  two.  First,  your  demeanor  must  undergo 
some  alteration  ;  it's  far  too  hearty,  too  healthy,  too  bucolic,  and 
too  rustic.  Ere  you  can  commence  in  earnest,  you've  got  to 
make  it  about  the  length  of  a  Cremona  fiddle ;  also  yellowy 
gray,  and  meek  and  smug  and  humble.  And  when  ye  first  open 
the  shop,  begin  by  making  the  responses  in  a  loud  voice,  and 
give  the  '  amens '  plenty  o'  lip,  so  that  you'll  be  heard  above 
your  neighbor.  And  when  it  comes  to  a  moan,  or  a  groan,  or 
a  sigh,  roll  'em  out  as  though  you  meant  'em.  And  let  your 
singing  be  lusty  and  out  o'  tune,  and  your  general  demeanor 
sinlessly  pious,  and  you  may  take  my  word  for  it  your  chance 
will  come.  The  chosen  will  begin  to  notice  you  after  a  time, 
and  will  see  how  the  spirit  doth  fructify  within  you.  Then 
you'll  be  promoted  to  passing  round  the  collection  plate,  and  if 
you  will  but  keep  your  left  arm  stretched  fairly  over  it,  and  ex- 
ercise your  thumb  and  middle  finger  as  you  ought  to  do,  your 
fortune's  made." 

"  Pete  !  "  I  broke  in  severely. 

"  '  It's  a  cold  heart  that  tries  to  hoodwink  a  proven  friend,' 
said  Long  Bob,  and,  'pon  honor,  I'm  entirely  of  that  way  o' 
thinking  myself,"  he  went  on,  giving  me  no  chance  for  right- 
eous expostulation.  "  But  touching  the  highwayman  business. 
Thou  hast  been  a  creditable  scholar.  Not  exactly  a  Bob  Bickers 
of  course.  We  only  have  one  of  his  kidney  in  a  century,  but 
still  pretty  well  for  a  yeoman's  son.  I  have  my  doubts  as  to 
whether  you  would  have  risen  very  high  in  the  profession,  for 
candid,  lad,  betwixt  man  and  man,  your  headpiece  ain't  of  the 
best.  It's  right  enough  for  a  bit  o'  common  purse-snatching, 
but,  bless  you,  when  it  comes  to  the  real  tasty  bits,  the  real 


4 1 o  MISTRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VI N. 

artistic  bits,  then,  say  I,  nature  stinted  you  in  the  matter  of 
natural  genius.  Still,  lad,  I  wish  you  luck  and  success  in  your 
new  undertaking." 

"  Thank  you  !  "  sarcastically  quoth  I. 

"  No  call  to  thank  me,"  he  returned,  with  noble  pathos  in  his 
voice;  "I'm  of  a  trusting  and  confiding  turn  by  nature.  And 
I  stick  to  old  friends  and  do  my  little  best.  Methinks  I'm  ever 
ready  wi'  kindly  counsel,  and  with  the  blessed  coin  o'  the  realm 
at  a  pinch.  But  'tain't  my  style  at  all  to  blow  my  own  trumpet." 
So  he  blew  his  nose  instead. 

I  took  advantage  of  the  pause  thus  offered,  to  commence  a 
tremendous  retort.  But  the  first  terrific  sentence  fell  stillborn 
from  my  lips,  since  he  withered  it  by  the  politest  bow  he  could 
command,  and  continued  with  sweet  dignity. 

"  Many  thanks,  friend,  from  I  that  am  so  unworthy  of  your 
kind  remarks.  Yet  what  I  had  to  say  was  this.  Methinks  you 
will  soon  find  a  worthy  successor  in  the  West  country.  If  my 
lad  Tom  doth  but  fulfil  early  promise,  he'll  make  some  stir  be- 
twixt Bristol  and  Bruton.  You  take  a  word  from  one  who 
knows.  That  boy  hath  more  o'  Long  Bob  Bickers'  qualities 
than  any  youth  I've  known." 

At  this  juncture  I  did  a  wise  thing;  I  submitted.  Neither  my 
tongue  nor  my  intellect  were  sufficently  nimble  to  cope  with 
those  possessed  by  Master  Whipple.  Therefore  I  swallowed  my 
grievances  and  called  for  two  flagons  of  sack.  My  companion 
pledged  my  good  health,  emptied  the  pot  at  one  draught,  and 
called  for  another  at  my  expense.  Hereupon  I  broached  the 
subject  that  dwelt  in  mind. 

"  Pete,  what  hath  brought  you  to  Town  ? "  I  asked  as  a 
preliminary. 

"  Private  and  confidential  matters.  In  fact,  it's  a  family 
reason." 

And  he  chinked  the  gold  in  his  pocket. 

"  Can  you  find  time  to  transact  a  piece  of  important  business 
for  me  ? " 

'  Might  I  inquire  what  it  is  ?  " 

'You  know  Captain  Joshua  Pringle,  do  you  not?  " 

'  My  friend,  you  are  wasting  words." 

'  I  want  you  to  deliver  his  rascally  body  into  my  custody." 

'  Terms  ? " 

'One  hundred  guineas.  But  mind,  no  violence  must  be 
used." 

"  You  had  better  make  it  two  hundred,  then.'1 

I  remonstrated  at  the  exorbitant  demand,  but  he  waxed  so 


HIS  PROTESTAATT  MAJESTY  KING  WILLIAM  III.      41 1 

eloquent  concerning  "the  duty  to  his  family  ;  "  "the  serious  tax 
upon  his  time  ;  "  "  and  the  bodily  peril  of  the  undertaking," 
that  in  the  end  a  compromise  was  arrived  at ;  and  he  accepted 
one  hundred  and  fifty. 

Perchance,  kinsmen,  you  are  tempted  to  look  upon  this  bold 
offer  of  mine  as  a  truly  strange  one.  However,  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  'twas  not  my  offer  at  all.  Upon  the  morning  of  this  trans- 
action, I  had  received  a  letter  from  Mistress  Dorothy.  Jt  in- 
formed me  that  my  darling  had  received  a  small  legacy  left  by 
a  member  of  her  mother's  family  in  France.  She  had  at  once 
decided  to  devote  this  sum  to  the  capture  of  her  father's  mur- 
derer. Having  heard  of  my  lack  of  success  in  the  matter,  she 
had  commanded  me  to  employ  an  expert.  And  who  could  be 
more  of  an  expert  than  Master  Peter  Whipple  ?  Verily  the 
case  was  hopeless  if  he  could  not  manage  it.  None  had  more 
extensive  knowledge  of  London  than  he,  none  had  keener  wits, 
and  to  no  man  was  I  under  deeper  obligations.  Thus  'twill  be 
seen  I  had  every  reason  to  place  the  matter  in  his  hands.  Ever 
since  my  sojourn  in  Town,  I  had  been  ceaseless  in  my  exertions 
to  lay  hands  on  the  despicable  little  villain,  but,  like  all  the 
other  things  I  had  undertaken  in  this  unlucky  enterprise,  I  had 
failed.  As  for  the  letter  that  had  reached  me  from  Chilverley  ; 
when  I  came  to  peruse  it,  I  found  warm  affection  for  me  to 
pervade  almost  every  line.  Accordingly,  after  I  had  read  it 
six  times  through,  I  cannot  say  which  touched  me  most :  the 
fidelity  the  maiden  showed  towards  her  friends,  or  the  hatred 
towards  her  enemies. 

Conceive  me,  kinsmen,  at  this  moment  to  be  like  a  man  with 
two  mistresses  !  My  first  mistress  is  Private  Events,  the  other 
Public  Events.  And  one  is  clearly  becoming  jealous  of  the 
other.  I  have  been  favoring  the  former  lately,  but  now  the 
latter,  like  a  very  ill-mannered,  ill-bred  person,  pokes  its  nose 
inr  and  bids  me  show  it  more  deference,  by  letting  it  sing  for  a 
few  minutes  in  a  major  key.  So,  to  keep  harmonious  to  the 
end,  I  am  obliged  (much  against  my  inclination)  to  humor  it 
somewhat;  therefore  listen  to  the  tenor  of  its  song. 

Thursday,  the  thirteenth  of  December,  brought  with  it  a 
curious  rumor.  'Twas  said,  first  suspiciously,  then  boldly,  that 
the  King  had  not  escaped.  By  nightfall  the  report  was  fully 
confirmed  that  he  had  been  captured  by  a  body  of  fishermen  in 
the  vicinity  of  Sheppey  Isle,  and  hod  been  prevented  from 
crossing  the  water.  To  the  disgust  and  disappointment  of  the 
Dutchman's  friends,  James,  being  thus  balked  in  his  attempted 
flight,  returned  to  Whitehall.  Still  this  event  provoked  no 


41 2  MISTRESS  DORO THY  MA R  VI N. 

spark  of  spirit  amongst  his  slender,  disheartened  following. 
His  prospects  grew  hourly  worse,  whereas,  in  proportion,  the 
Prince's  grew  hourly  better,  and  his  friends  became  increasingly 
exultant. 

The  Prince  was  now  at  Windsor.  On  Monday,  the  seven- 
teenth, he  called  a  council  of  his  principal  supporters.  The 
result  of  this  was,  that  a  message  was  drawn  up,  and  sent  to  the 
King,  requesting  him  to  withdraw  from  his  palace  to  a  house  in 
the  country.  There  was  nought  for  the  stricken  monarch  but 
prompt  compliance,  as  he  was  now  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  the 
Invader.  Thus  it  befell,  on  the  following  morning,  that  His 
Majesty  bade  adieu  to  his  capital.  Few  men  had  sympathy  for 
this  broken  and  despairing  man.  He  had  totally  alienated  his 
subjects  by  the  mercilessness  of  his  heart  and  the  folly  and 
bigotry  of  his  actions. 

Then  came  one  of  the  finest  scenes  of  the  drama.  That  same 
day  William  and  his  troops  took  possession  of  the  city.  'Twould 
be  idle  to  attempt  to  describe  his  reception,  and  'twould  be 
equally  so  to  speak  at  any  length  upon  the  enthusiasm  that 
bade  him  welcome.  The  entire  town  seemed  in  a  transport. 
Bells  rang  for  hours  from  every  Protestant  steeple.  Bonfires 
were  burnt  at  night,  and  even  the  staidest  and  soberest  citizens 
were  reckless  and  extravagant  regarding  the  number  of  window 
candles  they  used  to  celebrate  the  coining  of  their  champion. 
As  for  me,  I  employed  my  vocal  organs  so  zealously  and  so 
unwisely,  that  when  I  went  to  bed  that  night  1  had  a  goose- 
grease  plaster  on  my  chest.  It  was  indeed  a  great  day  for 
England  ;  'twas  once  more  free  from  a  tryant's  yoke  ;  folk  might 
live  henceforth  in  peace,  comfort,  and  prosperity,  instead  of 
being  at  the  mercy  of  a  malignant  bigot.  Mon  mouth  had  erred. 
He  had  come  before  the  nation  was  ripe  for  this  grand  blow, 
that  had  shattered  the  power  of  despotism.  But  now  the  seeds 
sown  by  the  brave  West-country  yokels  three  years  agone  had 
borne  fruit. 

This  momentous  affair  hath  been  called  "  The  Revolution," 
and  is  justly  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  wonders  of  history.  It 
appears  an  incredible  thing  that  so  great  a  stake  -as  the  Crown 
of  Great  Britain  should  be  won  and  lost  with  such  small  expen- 
diture of  blood.  Nevertheless,  scarce  a  score  lives  were  for- 
feited, and  only  a  few  score  shots  were  fired.  No  battle  had 
been  fought,  either  by  land  or  sea  ;  yet  the  Stuart  was  flying 
with  his  birthright  left  behind. 

Pete  took  this  triumph  with  philosophical  calmness.  He 
didn't  get  maudlinly  drunk,  like  the  quality  ;  or  aggressively 


HIS  PROTESTANT  MAJESTY  KING  WILLIAM  III.      413 

drunk,  like  the  commonalty ;  or  even  decently  drunk,  like  Jabez 
Fletcher  and  I.  In  fact,  he  didn't  get  drunk  at  all.  No,  he 
received  it  in  his  cold-blooded,  critical  way ;  and  was  blithe  to 
lay  down  the  law  in  the  morning  to  the  effect  that  the  country 
was  going  to  the  devil. 

I  remonstrated  with  him  for  this  harsh  decision  ;  whereupon 
I  learned  that  a  cheerful  nation  would  be  overrun  with  sour- 
faced  Dutchmen,  who  drank  nought  better  than  schnapps  and 
small  beer.  At  that  I  sought  to  console  mine  host  of  the  King's 
Head,  Bridgwater,  by  ordering  a  butt  of  Malmsey  to  be  delivered 
three  months  from  date  to  Sir  Edward  Armstrong  of  Copeland 
Hall,  in  the  county  of  Somerset. 

Now  Pete,  not  knowing  overmuch  of  my  affairs,  scratched 
his  wig  thereat,  and  said,  "  Well,  I'll  be  damned  !  "  as  though 
he  meant  it.  But  he  took  the  order  ;  and,  for  mine  own  part, 
I  took  unction  to  my  soul  for  having  mystified  a  man  of  great 
qualities  and  intellect. 

And  now  we  fell  upon  the  busiest  part  of  this  bustling  time. 
The  arrival  of  William  in  the  city  set  everybody  talking  politics. 
What  was  to  be  done  with  the  King  ?  Rational  men,  who  had 
been  staunchest  to  the  cause,  wisely  held  their  peace,  and  hoped 
for  the  best.  But  those  who  had  bided  at  home,  with  words 
for  neither  side  during  the  struggle,  having  seen  the  way  the 
cat  had  jumped,  came  forth  like  patriots,  and  gave  out  uneasy 
hints  concerning  the  year  '49,  and  what  happened  to  the  late 
King  Charles,  his  gracious  Majesty's  father  !  Of  course  this 
was  child's  talk,  and  folk  of  sense  accounted  it  as  such.  Yet, 
in  the  midst  of  this  high  language,  and  whilst  every  one  was 
telling  his  neighbor  what  ought  to  be  done,  and  what  ought  not 
to  be  done,  the  King  suddenly  placed  the  matter  beyond  all 
controversy.  News  was  brought  to  Town  on  Sunday  the 
twenty-third  that  the  monarch  had  embarked  in  a  skiff  on  the 
shores  of  the  Medway,  and  had  sailed  for  France,  relinquishing 
all  claim  to  the  Crown  and  the  Kingdom. 

William  had  now  the  game  in  his  own  hands  :  the  Revolution 
had  been  consummated  ;  the  Throne  of  England  was  within 
his  grasp.  The  Council  of  the  Nation  begged  him  to  take  it ; 
but  he  was  such  a  close  man  in  himself,  and  kept  his  private 
mind  so  secret,  that  many  had  doubts  at  first  as  to  whether  he 
would  accept  the  Crown.  I  was  among  the  sceptics,  and  the 
suspense  preyed  upon  me  so  that  I  could  not  bide  content 
whilst  the  matter  was  in  abeyance.  However,  in  the  end,  as  all 
the  world  knows,  he  took  his  uncle's  place  and  held  it  honor- 
ably and  wisely  till  the  day  he  died. 
27 


4 1 4  M1STXESS  DO  ROTH  Y  MAR  VI N. 

While  these  final  passages  were  pending  there  intervened  a 
time  of  weariness  ;  and  throughout  the  whole  of  it  I  remained 
in  London.  Till  the  Government  had  been  firmly  established 
I  had  no  chance  of  obtaining  the  patent  for  my  freedom.  And 
you  will  remember  I  had  sworn  not  to  return  without  it. 

During  the  first  fortnight  I  had  the  company  of  my  faithful 
friends,  Tobe  Hancock  and  Peter  Whipple.  The  latter  gentle- 
man was  exceeding  serious  in  his  efforts  to  earn  the  reward 
offered  by  my  mistress.  Still,  despite  the  vigilance  of  the  pair 
of  us,  Joshua  Pringle  was  more  than  our  match.  He  seemed 
to  have  disappeared  from  the  earth's  surface.  At  last,  how- 
ever, we  gathered  his  whereabouts.  We  had  the  information 
from  a  former  comrade  that  his  sins  had  overtaken  him  in 
the  form  of  a  fever,  and  that  he  had  already  gone  to  answer  for 
them. 

In  my  heart  I  was  by  no  means  sorry  that  the  gallows  had 
been  cheated  ;  though  Pete  was  quite  grief-stricken  to  hear  of 
his  timely  end.  However,  mine  host's  efforts  in  the  matter  did 
not  go  entirely  unrewarded,  and  this  considerably  mitigated 
his  distress.  Shortly  afterwards  he  and  Tobias  returned  to  the 
West  together,  leaving  me  behind  impatient,  but  not  bereft  of 
hope. 

'Twas  one  day  in  February  that  the  Dutchman  became  King, 
and  had  regal  rights  duly  vested  upon  him.  A  week  later  I 
secured  an  audience  with  him.  I  was  ushered  into  his  private 
closet,  where  he  was  alone  with  a  thoughtful  brow  and  a  great 
litter  of  papers. 

He  gave  me  no  chance  of  speaking  ere  he  glanced  at  me 
quickly,  said,  "  Ah,  Sir  Edward  !  "  with  something  like  a  smile, 
and  extended  his  right  hand  towards  me. 

In  an  instant  I  was  on  one  knee  and  had  his  fingers  to  my 
lips.  As  I  rose,  the  sun  peeped  over  the  naked  trees  in  the  park, 
and  glittered  coldly  on  the  steel  buttons  of  His  Majesty's  vest ; 
and  its  frosty  light  seemed  to  exactly  match  the  King's  inscru- 
table countenance.  But  this  time  I  feared  him  not.  'Twas 
now  I  felt  the  dawn  of  hope,  and  for  the  first  time  for  many 
months  the  joy  of  living.  His  Majesty  remembered  perfectly 
well  my  late  adventures  for  the  cause,  and  showed  a  marked 
acquaintance  with  my  private  history.  When  he  had  the  full 
facts  of  it,  he  gave  me  no  word  of  sympathy  ;  but  upon  leaving 
his  presence  half  an  hour  later,  I  carried  with  me  an  order  for 
the  restitution  of  my  heritage,  and  that  of  Mistress  Dorothy 
Marvin,  another  calling  upon  the  Chancellor  to  pay  me  one 
year's  revenues  forthwith,  and  a  third  annulling  the  sentence 
of  my  outlawry. 


THE  RETURN  TO  THE  WEST.  415 

CHAPTER  XLIX. 

THE   RETURN    TO   THE   WEST. 

IT  chanced  that  along  my  line  of  route  betwixt  Whitehall 
and  the  Three  Crowns  there  was  a  goldsmith's  shop.  Thither 
I  went,  and  made  a  purchase — not  a  costly  one  ;  simply  a 
slender  band  of  precious  metal. 

Two  days  hence  my  London  business  had  been  transacted. 
Thus  I  said  good-bye  to  Master  Fletcher,  and  turned  the  head 
of  great  Gustavus  towards  the  West.  I  rode  at  quite  a  sedate 
pace,  tho'  all  the  way  thither  I  ne'er  ceased  to  think  of  my  tide 
of  joy;  nor  could  I  keep  my  mind  from  dwelling  on  it.  I 
reflected  on  God's  mercy,  too,  and  marvelled  at  the  fulness  of 
its  revelation. 

I  reached  the  Quantocks  as  night  was  closing  in,  on  the  third 
day  of  the  journey.  Knowing  the  ground,  I  determined  to 
push  on  to  the  farmstead  in  the  darkness.  Accordingly,  as 
the  grim  shadows  stalked  along  the  valleys  and  shrouded  the 
black  summits  of  the  hills,  I  set  my  horse  briskly  over  the 
frozen  ground,  along  the  hollows,  through  the  silent  ravines, 
and  across  the  ice-coated  water-courses. 

Presently  I  arrived  at  the  farmstead  gate.  Can  I  ever  forget 
the  crossing  of  the  rickyard  that  night,  and  how  the  sight  of 
the  kitchen  candles  thrilled  me  ?  My  feet  seemed  to  linger 
lovingly  at  every  step  on  the  familiar  paths,  as  if  to  draw  out 
my  joyfulness  still  longer.  I  put  my  horse  up  in  the  stable, 
and  then  walked  into  the  kitchen,  to  the  cheerful  fire  and  the 
beautiful  faces. 

I  trow  'tis  not  a  seemly  thing  for  any  man  to  expatiate  upon 
these  supreme  moments  in  his  life.  Therefore,  instead  of  exalt- 
ing my  happiness  before  you,  I  will  drop  the  veil  of  discretion 
over  this  joyful  evening,  and  will  only  say  that  we  did  not  retire 
to  rest  till  three  of  the  clock  in  the  morning. 

I  awoke  next  day  with  the  consciousness  that  an  irksome 
duty  was  unfulfilled  as  yet.  Being  a  plain  man,  and  an  inex- 
perienced one,  I  had  many  qualms,  which  I  believe  were  only 
natural.  I  had  also  a  presentiment  that  I  should  make  a  fool 
of  myself,  unless  I  had  some  assistance  from  the  lady,  and  that 
I  could  by  no  means  depend  upon. 

At  breakfast-time  I  ate  a  poor  meal,  and  felt  ridiculously 
nervous  throughout  the  course  of  it.  On  the  other  hand,  Dor- 


4 1 6  MIS  TRESS  DORO  THY  MAR  VI N. 

othy,  who  sat  opposite,  made  an  excellent  one,  and  kept  inno- 
cently asking  what  had  become  of  my  appetite.  Mother  laughed 
outright  when  the  sly  maid  had  propounded  this  question  for 
the  tenth  time.  Natheless  my  mistress  declared  my  attitude 
towards  the  eatables  was  a  direct  reflection  upon  herself,  as  she 
had  made  the  pasties. 

"  Wilt  have  a  ramble  with  me  among  the  hills  this  lovely 
morning,  dearest?"  I  whispered  into  her  ear  when  the  meal  was 
done. 

She  ran  to  her  room,  and  came  forth  presently  attired  in  her 
hat  and  gloves  and  walking-coat.  I  donned  my  headgear  also, 
and  taking  John's  hazel  stick,  set  forth  with  my  love  for  com- 
pany. But  as  we  were  crossing  the  threshold  of  the  door,  that 
heavy-witted  wight,  John  Armstrong,  rose  and  put  on  his  hat, 
saying — 

"  Bide  a  minute,  Ned,  methinks  I  will  walk  out  with  you. 
'Tis  a  rare  day  for  walking  ;  besides,  the  occasion  is  so  joyful, 
I  will  honor  it  by  allowing  myself  a  holiday." 

"  Nay,  nay,  John,  not  this  morning,"  put  in  mother  promptly. 
"  'Tis  a  very  throng  time  this  week.  Best  have  an  eye  to  the 
hedging  and  ditching.  You  know  the  men  are  that  idle,  they 
will  do  no  work  unless  there  is  somebody  by  to  keep  them 
to  it." 

John  decided  on  this  course,  though  not  without  demur. 
Meanwhile  dear  mother's  face  betrayed  such  a  wealth  of  supe- 
rior understanding  that  Dorothy  blushed  ;  whilst  I  felt  a  fore- 
taste of  my  expected  foolishness,  when  Betty  whispered  to  my 
mistress — 

"  All  men  are  fools,  but  I  believe  our  Jack  is  the  biggest  and 
most  perfect  of  the  breed. " 

I  shared  that  sentiment.-  And  I  have  no  doubt  Dorothy 
(being  a  woman)  in  her  private  mind  was  just  as  severe  towards 
the  clumsy  interloper.  However  we  set  out  by  our  two  selves 
along  the  pastures,  crossed  the  fence  where  our  farm  land  bor- 
ders the  ravine,  and  so  reached  the  hills,  which  had  the  white- 
ness of  winter  upon  them.  In  the  beginning  I  found  no  con- 
versation, although  in  my  natural  state  I  have  that  noble  gift- 
self-confidence. 

Suddenly  my  mistress  stopped,  picked  up  a  frozen  clod  of 
turf,  and  threw  it  at  a  robin  redbreast  as  it  trotted  over  the  rimy 
heather,  then  fiercely  turned  on  me. 

"  Oh,  boy  !  why  so  tongue-tied  ?  Art  like  a  deaf  mute  at  a, 
funeral  !  " 

"Am  I?"  I  returned  abstractedly. 


THE  RETURN  TO  THE  WEST.  417 

At  that  she  tossed  up  her  chin,  and  fell  a-whistling  "  Lillibul- 
lero."  The  mad  lilt  jogged  my  memory. 

"  Dorothy,"  said  I,  "  I  have  your  freedom  in  my  pocket." 

"  That  you  have  not,  Sir  Edward.  You  gave  it  me  last  night," 
and  she  produced  the  papers  with  the  King's  seal  thereon,  and 
brandished  them  before  my  eyes. 

"  Dear  gentlemen,  I  can  plainly  see  he  is  not  used  to  this  sort 
of  thing,"  she  said,  making  capital  out  of  my  confusion. 

"  And  if  he  were  ?  "  quoth  I,  at  last  upon  my  mettle. 

That  question  was  more  than  she  had  bargained  for.  Yet 
able  tacticians  are  not  routed  by  a  side  wind  or  a  stray  word. 

"  And  if  he  were — well,  he  is  a  great  swordsman." 

"  And  if  he  were  not  a  great  swordsman  ? " 

"He  would  simply  be  mine  own,  dear  lad!"  Her  face 
flushed  with  this  sudden  gust  of  fervor.  "  Ned,"  she  continued 
impertinently,  "  I  would  give  ten  guineas  to  tease  you  as  I  would 
like  to  do.  You  are  the  very  worst  lover  I  have  met.  Dear 
papa  always  averred  that  a  good  fighter  was  a  good  wooer,  but 
I  take  it  thou'rt  the  exception  that  proves  the  rule.  My  Lord 
Churchill  said  more  pretty  things  to  me  in  one  five  minutes  than 
you  will  have  the  wit  to  say  in  a  lifetime." 

"Damn  Lord  Churchill !  " 

"  'Tis  a  very  sedate  young  gentleman,  I'm  thinking  ;  "  the  old 
ring  of  impudence  was  in  her  tone,  and  the  old  look  of  mock- 
ery in  her  eyes,  "  and  I  am  charmed  to  see  he  hath  learnt  to 
conduct  himself  before  his  lady.  Yes,  sir,  now  the  great  work 
is  done  I  am  your  lady.  You  may  be  Sir  Edward,  but  I'm  your 
lady,  and  what  is  more,  I'll  exact  from  you  all  the  courtesy  that 
is  due  to  ladies." 

Methought  my  position  was  getting  peculiarly  irksome,  so  I 
hastened  to  relate  a  piece  of  news  that  was  fraught  with  every 
import. 

"  Captain  Pringle  is  dead,"  said  I. 

"  Did  he  die  in  his  bed  ?  "  she  asked.  'Twas  wonderful  how 
levity  gave  way  to  eager  gravity  in  her  voice,  how  wild  her  look 
was,  and  how  firmly  she  clutched  my  sleeve. 

"  Yes.     A  fever  sent  him  hence." 

A  cruel  light  sprang  into  her  eyes,  her  mouth  was  very  merci- 
less and  swift  emotions  lighted  her  splendid  face. 

"  He  deserved  the  gallows  if  ever  man  did,"  she  said.  "  I 
would  have  watched  him  hang  with  a  dry  eye.  But  perhaps  'tis 
best  as  it  is.  You  said  last  night,  Ned,  that  you  had  tasted  the 
cup  of  vengeance,  and  that  you  had  found  it  truly  vile  and  very 
nauseous." 


418  MISTRESS  DOROTHY  MARVIN. 

"  'Tis  quite  true,  though  it  took  me  many  months  to  learn  it," 
I  interposed  with  a  sense  of  deep  humiliation. 

She  made  no  answer,  only  murmured  "  Poor  father  !  "  under 
her  breath,  and  turned  her  head  away  from  me. 

"  Darling,  how  often  hast  thou  thought  of  me  during  the  last 
four  months  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  I  have  prayed  for  thee  every  night,  and  thought  of  thee 
every  hour  of  the  day,  dear  lad." 

"  I  shall  never  go  forth  to  war  again,"  I  said.  "  I  have  done 
with  all  fighting.  From  this  day  I  will  keep  my  sword  sheathed. 
My  youthful  spirit  hath  been  sapped.  1  long  for  peace  and 
a  quiet  life,  like  one  with  a  mortal  wound  longs  for  death.  I 
am  a  broken  man.  Art  willing  to  take  me  on  such  terms, 
mistress  ?  " 

She  gazed  wistfully  on  my  face,  and  beheld  the  hard  lines 
adversity  had  stamped  upon  it. 

I  took  off  my  hat,  saying,  "I  am  old  before  my  time.  Dost 
see  my  hair  is  gray  ?  " 

"  Hum  !  'twill  match  my  complexion." 

I  bethought  myself  that  minute  the  most  injured  man  in  the 
universe.  The  exact  truth  of  the  matter  was  that  I  had  traded 
too  much  upon  her  tenderness.  My  dear  maiden  looked  at  me 
with  a  smile  broadening  round  her  lips,  till  all  at  once  she  broke 
forth  with  a  great  cry  of  laughter — 

"  The  miserable,  mumping  man  !  expected  me  to  weep,  did 
he  ?  This  day  of  all  days  1  will  not  weep.  Pish !  thou'rt 
properly  paid,  my  master." 

No  doubt  of  that ;  I  was  properly  paid.  So  I  put  on  my  hat 
very  shamefacedly  when  I  thought  she  was  not  looking.  I  had 
played  too  much  upon  her  feelings ;  and  she,  ever  quick  to  find 
a  whimsicality,  had  observed  me  cross  the  delicate  border-line 
betwixt  pathos  and  bathos,  and  it  was  this  indiscretion  that  had 
turned  her  sadness  into  mirth. 

"  Sir  Edward ,"  she  continued,  when  I  struck  in  with — 

"  Why  so  long  a  title,  mistress  ?     I  prefer  a  shorter  one." 

"  Oh,  I  must  give  your  worship  your  honorable  patronymic, 
just  to  see  how  it  feels.  Really,  Ned,  it  comes  from  my  tongue 
very  fine  and  heroical." 

"  If  you  persist  in  this,"  quoth  I  severely,  "  I  shall  address 
you  as  my  lady." 

"  Yes,  I  shall  be  your  lady." 

"You  shall  be  my  queen,"  said  I. 

"  Splendidly  said,  young  man,  splendidly  said  !  "  she  cried, 
her  face  aglow  with  rippling  smiles,  though  I  have  my  doubts 


THE  RETURN  TO  THE  WEST.  419 

as  to  whether  her  enthusiasm  was  not  half  a  simulation.  "  Ton 
my  soul !  the  lad  hath  brought  back  a  London  tongue." 

At  this  I  had  to  kiss  her,  she  looked  so  saucy,  and  so  very 
pretty,  whereupon  she  was  blithe  to  add,  "  And  I  notice  he  hath 
brought  back  London  impudence  to  match  it." 

"  And  here  is  yet  another  thing  from  London,"  said  I  eagerly, 
slipping  a  ring  into  her  hand. 

She  put  up  one  white  finger,  and  tried  it  on,  to  learn  whether 
the  fit  was  satisfactory.  And  having  discovered  that  I  had 
gauged  the  girth  of  it  with  skill  and  nicety,  she  linked  her  arm 
through  mine  and  we  went  together  down  the  hill — even  as  we 
were  to  go  down  the  hill  of  life — together. 


THE    END. 


APPLETONS'   TOWN  AND  COUNTRY  LIBRARY. 

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35.  Mistress  Beatrice  Cope.    My  M.  E.  LE  CLERC. 
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37.  In  the  Golden  Days.    By  EDNA  LYALL. 

38.  Giraldi ;  or,  The  Curse  of  Love.    By  Ross  GEORGE  BERING. 

39.  A  Hardy  Norseman.    By  EDNA  LYALL. 

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CLARK  RUSSELL. 

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44.  Blind  Love.    By  WILKIE  COLLINS. 

45.  The  Dean's  Daughter.    By  SOPHIE  F.  F.  VEITCH. 

46.  Countess  Irene.    A  Romance  of  Austrian  Life.    By  J.  FOGERTY. 

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£0.  The,  Craze  of  Christian  Engelhart.    By  HENRY  FAULKNER  DARNELL. 

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52.  Aline.    A  Novel.     By  HENRY  GREVILLE. 

53.  Joost  Avelingh.    A  Dutch  Story.    By  MAARTEN  MAARTENS. 

54.  Katy  of  Catoctin.    By  GEORGE  ALFRED  TOWNSEND. 

55.  Throckmorton.    A  Novel.    By  MOLLY  ELLIOT  SEA  WELL. 

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57.  Geoffrey  ffampstead.    By  T.  S.  JABVIS. 


APPLETONS'  TOWN  AND  COUNTRY  LIBRARY.— (Continued.) 

68.  Dmitri.    A  Romance  of  Old  Russia.    By  F.  W.  Bain,  M.  A. 
59   Part  of  the  Property.    By  BEATRICE  WHITBT. 

60.  Bismarck  in  Prirate  Life.    By  a  Fellow-Student. 

61.  In  Low  Relief.    By  MORLET  ROBERTS. 

62.  The  Canadians  of  Old.    A  Historical  Romance.    By  PHILIPPE  GASPE. 
C3.  A  Squire  of  Low  Degree.    By  LII.Y  A.  LONG. 

64.  A  Fluttered  Dovecote.    By  GEORGE  MANVILLE  FENN. 

Co.    The  Nugent*  of  Carriconna.    An  Irish  Story.    By  TIOHE  HOPKINS. 

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68.  Pepita  Ximenez.    By  JUAN  VALERA.    Translated  by  Mrs.  MARY  J.  SERRANO. 
*>9.  The  Primes  and  their  Neighbors.    By  RICHARD  MALCOLM  JOHNSTON. 

70.  The  Iron  Game.    By  HENRY  F.  KEENAN. 

71.  Stories  of  Old  New  Spain.    By  THOMAS  A.  JANVIER. 

72.  The  Maid  of  Honor.    By  Hon.  LEWIS  WINGFIELD. 

73.  In  the  Heart  of  the  Storm.    By  MAXWELL  GRAY. 

74.  Consequences.    By  EGEHTON  CASTLE. 

75.  The  Three  Miss  Kings.    By  ADA  CAMBRIDGE. 

76.  A  Matter  of  Skill.    By  BEATRICE  WHITBY. 

77.  Maid  Marian,  and  Other  Stories.    By  MOLLY  ELLIOT  SEAWELL. 

78.  One  Woman's  Way.    By  EDMUND  PENDLETON. 

79.  A  Merciful  Divorce.    By  F.  W.  MAUDE. 

80.  Stephen  Etticott's  Daughter.    By  Mrs.  J.  H.  NEEDELL. 

81.  One  Reason  Why.    By  BEATRICE  WHITBY. 

82.  The  Tragedy  of  Ida  Noble.    By  W.  CLARK  RUSSELL. 

83.  The  Johnstovm  Stage,  and  other  Stories.    By  ROBERT  H.  FLETCHER. 

84.  A  Widower  Indeed.    By  RHODA  BROUGHTON  and  ELIZABETH  BISLAND. 

85.  The  Flight  of  a  Shadow.    By  GEORGE  MACDONALD. 

86.  Love  or  Money.    By  KATHARINE  LEE. 

87.  Not  All  in  Vain.    By  ADA  CAMBRIDGE. 

88.  It  Happened  Yesterday.    By  FREDERICK  MARSHALL. 

89.  My  Guardian.    By  ADA  CAMBRIDGE. 

80.  The  Story  of  Philip  Methuen.    By  Mrs.  J.  H.  NEEDELL. 

91.  Amethyst :  The  Story  of  a  Beauty.    By  CHBISTABEL  R.  COLERIDGE. 

92.  Don  Braulip.    By  JUAN  VALERA.    Translated  by  CLARA  BELL. 

93.  The  Chronicles  of  Mr.  Bill  Williams.    By  RICHARD  MALCOLM  JOHNSTON. 

94.  A  Queen  of  Curds  and  Cream.    By  DOROTHEA  GERARD. 

95.  "  La  Bella  "  and  Others.    By  EOERTON  CASTLE. 
•i  96.  "  December  Poses."    By  Mrs.  CAMPBELL- PRAED. 

97.  Jean  de  Kerdren.    By  JEANNE  SCHULTZ. 

98.  Etelka's  Vow.    By  DOROTHEA  GERARD. 

99.  Crosscurrents.    By  MAKY  A.  DICKENS. 

100.  His  Life's  Magnet.    By  THEODORA  ELMSLIE. 

101.  Passing  the  Love  of  Women.    By  Mrs.  J.  H.  NEEKELL. 

102.  In  Old  St.  Stephen's.    By  JEANIE  DRAKE. 

103.  The  Berkeleys  and  their  Neighbors.    By  MOLLY  ELLIOT  SEAWELL. 

104.  Mona  Maclean,  Medical  Student.    By  GCAHAM  THAVKRS. 

105.  Mrs.  Bligh.    By  RHODA  BROUGHTON. 

106.  A  Stumble  on  the  Threshold.    By  JAMES  PAYN. 

107.  Hanging  Moss.    By  PAUL  LINDAU. 

108.  A  Comedy  of  Elopement.    By  CHRISTIAN  REID. 

109.  In  the  Suntime  of  her  Youth.    By  BEATRICE  WHITBY. 

110.  Stories  in  Black  and  White.    By  THOMAS  HARDY  and  Others. 
110J.  An  Englishman  in  Paris.    Notes  and  Recollections. 

111.  Commander  Mendoza.    By  JUAN  VALERA. 

112.  Dr.  Pauirs  Theory.    By  Mrs.  A.  M.  DIEHL. 

113.  Children  of  Destiny.    By  MOLLY  ELLIOT  SEAWELL. 

114.  A  Little  Minx.    By  ADA  CAMBRIDGE. 

115.  Capfn  Davy's  Honeymoon.    By  HALL  CAINE. 

116.  The  Voice  of  a  Flower.    By  E.  GERARD. 

117.  Singularly  Deluded.    By  SARAH  GRAND. 

118.  Suspected.    By  LOUISA  STRATENUS. 

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120.  The  Tutor's  Secret.    By  VICTOR  CHERBULIEZ. 


APPLETONS'  TOWN  AND  COUNTRY  LIBRARY.— (Continued.) 

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123.  Ideala.    By  SARAH  GRAND. 

124.  A  Comedy  of  Masks.    By  ERNEST  DOWSON  and  ARTHUR  MOOBK. 

125.  Relics.    By  FRANCES  MACRAE. 

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127.  A  Woman  of  Forty.    By  ESME  STUART. 

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129.  The  Recipe  for  Diamonds.    By  C.  J.  CUTCLIFFE  HYNE. 

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133.  A  Marriage  Ceremony.    By  ADA  CAMBRIDGE. 

134.  A  Ward  in  Chancery.     By  Mrs.  ALEXANDER. 

135.  Lot  13.    By  DOROTHEA  GERARD. 

136.  Our  Manifold  Mature.    By  SARAH  GRAND. 

137.  A  Costly  Freak.    By  MAXWELL  GRAY. 
H38.  A  Beginner.    By  EHODA  BROUGHTON. 

139.  A  Yellow  Aster.     By  Mrs.  MANNINGTON  CAFFYN  ("  IOTA"). 

140.  The  Rubicon.    By  E.  F.  BENSON. 

141.  The  Trespasser.    By  GILBERT  PARKER. 

142.  The  Rich  Miss  Riddell.    By  DOROTHEA  GEKARD. 

143.  Mary  Fenwick's  Daughter.    By  EEATRICE  WHITBY. 

144.  Red  Diamonds.    By  JUSTIN  MCCARTHY. 

145.  A  Daughter  of  Music.    By  G.  COLMORE. 

146.  Outlaw  and  Lawmaker.    By  Mrs.  C  A  MPE  ELL-PR  ABD. 

147.  Dr.  Janet  of  Harley  Street,.  "By  ARABELLA  KENEALY. 
,   148.  George  MandexiMs  Husband.    By  C.  E.  KAIMOND. 
M49.  Vashti  and  Esther. 

150.  Timor's  Two  Worlds.    By  M.  JOKAI. 

151.  A  Victim  of  Good  Luck.    By  W.  E.  NORRIS. 

152.  The  Trail  of  the  Sword.    By  GILBERT  PARKER. 

153.  A  Mild  Barbarian.    By  EDGAR  FAWCETT. 

154.  The  God  in  the  Car.    By  ANTHONY  HOPE. 

155.  Children  of  Circumstance.    By  Mrs.  M.  CAFTYN. 

156.  At  the  Gate  »/  Samaria.    By  WILLIAM  J.  LOCKE. 

157.  The  Justification  of  Andrew  Lebrun.     By  FRANK  BARRETT. 
158-  Dust  and  Laurels.    By  MARY  L.  PENDERED. 

159.  The  Good  Ship  Mohock.    By  W.  CLARK  RUSSELL. 

160.  Noemi.    By  S.  BARING-GOULD. 

161.  The  Honour  of  Savelli.    By  S.  LEVETT  YEATS. 

162.  Kitty's  Engagement.    By  FLORENCE  WARDEN. 

163.  The  Mermaid.    By  L.  DOUGALL. 

164.  An  Arranged  Marriage.    By  DOROTHEA  GERARD. 

165.  Eve's  Ransom.    By  GEORGE  GISSING. 

166.  The  Marriage  of  Either.    By  GUY  BOOTUBY. 

167.  Fidelis.    By  ADA  CAMBRIDGE. 

108.  Into  the  Highways  and  Hedges.    By  F.  F.  MONTF^SOR. 

169.  The  Vengeance  of  James  Vansittart.    By  Mrs.  J.  H.  NEEDELL. 

170.  A  Study  in  Prejudices.     By  GEORGE  PASTON. 

171.  The.  Mistress  of  Quest.    By  ADELINE  SERGEANT. 

172.  In  the  Year  of  Jubilee.    By  GEORGE  GISSING. 

173.  In  Old  New  England .   BV'HEZEKIAH  BUTTEHWOR-H. 

174.  Mrs.  Musgrave — and  Her  Husband.    By  R.  MARSH. 

175.  Not  Counting  the  Cost.    By  TASMA. 

176.  Out  of  Due  Season.     By  ADELINE  SERGEANT. 

177.  Scytta  or  Charybdis  ?    By  RHODA  BKOUGUTON. 

178.  In  Defiance  of  the  King.    By  C.  C.  HOTCHKISS. 

179.  A  Bid  for  Fortune.    By  GUY  BOOTHBY. 

180.  The  Sing  of  Andaman.    By  J.  MACLAREN  COBBAN'. 

181.  Mrs.  Tregaskiss.    Bv  Mrs.  CAMPBELL-PRAED. 

182.  The  Desire  of  the  Moth.    By  CAPEL  VANE. 

183.  A  Self-Denying  Ordinance.    By  M.  HAMILTON. 

184.  Successors  to  the  Title.    By  Mrs.  L.  B.  WALFORD. 


APPLETONS'  TOWN  AND  COUNTRY  LIBRARY.- (Continued.) 

185.  The  Lost  Stradivaritts.    By  T.  MEADE  FALKNER. 

186.  The  Wrong  Man.    By  DOKOTIIBA  GERARD. 

187.  In  the  Day  of  Adversity.    By  J.  BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. 

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quently with  a  new  way  of  saying  it.  ...  Jn  'The  Red  Badge  of  Courage'  Mr. 
Crane  has  surely  contrived  a  masterpiece.  ...  He  has  painted  a  picture  that  chal- 
lenges comparisons  with  the  most  vivid  scenes  of  Tolstoy's  '  La  Guerre  et  la  Paix'  or 
of  Zola's  '  La  Debacle."  " — London  New  Review. 

"  In  its  whole  range  of  literature  we  can  call  to  mind  nothing  so  searching  in  its 
analysis,  so  manifestly  impressed  with  the  stamp  of  truth,  as  'The  Red  Badge  of 
Courage.'  ...  A  remarkable  study  of  the  average  mind  under  stress  of  battle.  .  .  . 
We  repeat,  a  really  fine  achievement." — London  Daily  Chronicle. 

"  Not  merely  a  remarkable  book  ;  it  is  a  revelation.  .  .  .  One  feels  that,  with  per- 
haps one  or  two  exceptions,  all  previous  descriptions  of  modern  warfare  have  been  the 
merest  abstractions." — St.  James  Gazette. 

"  Holds  one  irrevocably.  There  is  no  possibility  of  resistance  when  once  you  are 
in  its  grip,  from  the  first  of  the  march  of  the  troops  to  the  closing  scenes.  .  .  .  Mr. 
Crane,  we  repeat,  has  written  a  remarkable  book.  His  insight  and  his  power  of  realiza- 
tion amount  to  genius." — Pall  Mall  Gazette. 

"There  is  nothing  in  American  fiction  to  compare  with  it  in  the  vivid,  uncom- 
promising, almost  aggressive  vigor  with  which  it  depicts  the  strangely  mingled  condi- 
tions that  go  to  make  up  what  men  call  war.  .  .  .  Mr.  Crane  has  added  to  American 
literature  something  that  has  never  been  done  before,  and  that  is,  in  its  own  peculiar 
way,  inimitable." — Boston  Beacon. 

"  Never  before  have  we  had  the  seamy  side  of  glorious  war  so  well  depicted.  .  .  . 
The  action  of  the  story  throughout  is  splendid,  and  all  aglow  with  color,  movement, 
and  vim.  The  style  is  as  keen  and  bright  as  a  sword  blade,  and  a  Kipling  has  done 
nothing  better  in  this  line." — Chicago  Evening  Post. 


I 


N  DEFIANCE  OF  THE  KING.  A  Romance  of 
the  American  Revolution.  By  CHAUNCEY  C.  HOTCHKISS. 
I2mo.  Paper,  50  cents  ;  cloth,  $1.00. 

"  The  whole  story  is  so  completely  absorbing  that  you  will  sit  far  into  the  night  to 
finish  it.  You  lay  it  aside  with  the  feeling  that  you  have  seen  a  gloriously  true  picture 
of  the  Revolution." — Boston  Herald. 

"  The  story  is  a  strong  one— a  thrilling  one.  It  causes  the  true  American  to  flush 
with  excitement,  to  devour  chapter  after  chapter  until  the  eyes  smart ;  and  it  fairly 
smikes  with  patriotism." — New  York  Mail  and  Express. 

"  The  heart  beats  quickly,  and  we  feel  ourselves  taking  part  in  the  scenes  described. 
.  .  .  Altogether  the  book  is  an  addition  to  American  literature." — Chicago  Evening 
Post. 

"  One  of  the  most  readable  novels  of  the  year.  .  .  .  As  a  love  romance  it  is  charm- 
ing, while  it  is  filled  with  thrilling  adventure  and  deeds  of  patriotic  daring." — Boston 
A  dvei'tiser. 

"  This  romance  seems  to  come  the  nearest  to  a  satisfactory  treatment  in  fiction  of 
the  Revolutionary  period  that  we  have  yet  had." — Buffalo  Courier. 

'•'  A  clean,  wholesome  story,  full  of  romance  and  interesting  adventure.  .  .  .  Holds 
the  interest  alike  by  the  thread  of  the  story  and  by  the  incidents.  .  .  .  A  remarkably 
well-balanced  and  absorbing  novel." — Milwaukee  Journal. 


New  York  :  D.  APPLETON  &  CO.,  72  Fifth  Avenue. 


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"An  exquisite  story.  .  .  .  No  person  sensitive  to  the  influence  of  what  makes  for  the 
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"  The  book  has  universal  interest  and  very  unusual  merit  .  .  .  Aside  from  its 
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— Boston  Herald. 

(CORRUPTION.     By  PERCY  WHITE,  author  of  "  Mr. 
^      Bailey-Martin,"  etc.     I2mo.     Cloth,  $1.25. 

"  There  is  intrigue  enough  in  it  for  those  who  love  a  story  of  the  ordinary  kind,  and 
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/I  HARD  WOMAN.  A  Story  in  Scenes.  By  VIOLET 
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"An  extremely  clever  work.  Miss  Hunt  probably  writes  dialogue  better  than  any 
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sustained,  but  she  contrives  to  assign  to  each  of  her  characters  a  distinct  mode  of 
speech,  so  that  the  reader  easily  identifies  them,  and  can  follow  the  cenversations  without 
the  slightest  difficulty." — London  Athenceum. 

"One  of  the  best  writers  of  dialogue  of  our  immediate  day.  The  conversations  in 
this  book  will  enhance  her  already  secure  reputation."— London  Daily  Chronicle. 

"  A  creation  that  does  Miss  Hunt  infinite  credit,  and  places  her  in  the  front  rank  of 
the  younger  novelists.  .  .  .  Brilliantly  drawn,  quivering  with  life,  adroit,  quiet-witted, 
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tional sioryof  love  and  marriage.  The  clever  hand  of  the  author  of  '  The  Green 
Carnation  '  is  easily  detected  in  the  caustic  wit  and  pointed  epigram."— yeannette  L. 
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"  Mrs.  Craigie  has  taken  her  place  among  the  novelists  of  the  day.  It  is  a  high 
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threshold  of  a  great  career,  but  already  within  the  temple  of  fame." — G.  W.  SMALLEY, 
in  the  Tribune. 

"  Here  is  the  sweetness  of  a  live  love  story.  ...  It  is  to  be  reckoned  among  the 
brilliants  as  a  novel." — Boston  Courier.  • 

"  One  of  the  most  refreshing  novels  of  the  period,  full  of  grace,  spirit,  force,  feeling, 
and  literary  charm." — Chicago  Evening  Post. 

"  Clever  and  cynical,  full  of  epigrams  and  wit,  bright  with  keen  delineations  of 
character,  and  with  a  shrewd  insight  into  life." — Newark  Advertiser. 

"A  novel  of  profound  psychological  knowledge  and  ethical  import.  .  .  .  Worthy  of 
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1\/J~AELCHO.     By  the  Hon.  EMILY  LAWLESS,  author 

•*  *•*•    of  "  Crania,"  "  Hurrish,"  etc.     I2mo.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

"  A  paradox  of  literary  genius.  It  is  not  a  history,  and  yet  has  more  of  the  stuff 
of  history  in  it,  more  of  the  true  national  character  and  fate,  than  any  historical  mono- 
graph we  know.  It  is  not  a  novel,  and  yet  fascinates  us  more  than  any  novel." — 
London  Spectator. 

"  Abounds  in  thrilling  incidents.  .  .  .  Above  and  beyond  all,  the  book  charms  by 
reason  of  the  breadth  of  view,  the  magnanimity,  and  the  tenderness  which  animate  the 
author." — London  Athenaeum. 

"  A  piece  of  work  of  the  first  order,  which  we  do  not  hesitate  to  describe  as  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  literary  achievements  of  this  generation." — Manchester  Guardian. 

"  For  power  and  thrilling  interest  '  Maelcho '  is  hardly  second  to  any  historical  novel 
that  we  have  read." — Boston  Home  Journal. 


LAND  OF  THE  SUN.  Vistas  Mexicanas. 
By  CHRISTIAN  REID,  author  of  "The  Land  of  the  Sky,"  "A 
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"Perhaps  no  book  of  recent  date  gives  a  simpler  and  at  the  same  time  more  effect- 
ive picture  of  this  truly  beautiful  '  land  of  the  sun '  than  is  to  be  found  in  this  striking 
volume." — St.  Louis  Republic, 

"  One  of  the  most  charming  books  of  travel  that  we  have  resd  for  a  lone  time.  .  . 
Certainly  no  one  should  ever  think  of  visiting  Mexico  without  taking  this  book  of 
splendid  description  and  delightful  romance  with  him." — Boston  Home  Journal. 

"He  who  would  see  the  grandeurs  of  Mexico  through  the  eyes  of  another  should 
give  careful  perusal  to  Christian  Reid's  portrayal  of  '  The  Land  of  the  Sun,' which  in 
every  detail  is  a  fitting  tribute  to  the  past,  present,  and  future  conditions  of  the  new 
Spain." — Chicago  Evening  Post. 


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